Barrow 35-12 Halifax
Barrow Raiders booked their place at the Co-operative Championship Grand Final with a comprehensive 35-12 win over Halifax at Craven Park.
The Raiders led 15-0 at the half-time interval, and completed the win with three tries in the final corner.
Halifax will have a second chance: next Thursday they will face the winners of tomorrow’s Widnes-Featherstone game to determine who will join Barrow at Warrington.
Barrow scored first with a penalty goal from Jamie Rooney, and another penalty gave them the field position to post the first try, Liam Harrison’s well-aimed pass allowing James Harrison to cross at the corner.
Rooney converted brilliantly from the touchline but the Raiders were unable to take advantage of more field position, while Halifax failed to take an opportunity to cut the deficit.
The home side kept the scoreboard ticking over with a drop goal from Rooney; Fax could perhaps have got onto the scoreboard but James Haley knocked on.
Barrow added a second try when Andy Ballard took an interception out on the right wing and sped over the line, Rooney converting, and the defence held firm when the visitors went on the attack before the interval.
Halifax had the chance to cut the gap after the restart when Sean Penkywicz touched down, but the video referee rightly ruled that he ball had been out of play.
The Raiders also went close, but it was the visitors who struck next: Mark Gleeson’s run from dummy half created the space for Ben Black to break and send Shad Royston under the posts, Lee Paterson converting.
However, Halifax could not get into contention, and Barrow practically ended the game as a contest when Rooney’s angled run allowed Ned Catic to score, Rooney’s goal opened up a 21-6 lead.
Another try followed quickly: Nixon’s run deep into Fax territory creating the space and smart handling allowing Andy Bracek to weave his way over, Rooney converting.
Rooney added a penalty to the total and was on hand to convert when Catic was able to set up Nixon for the winger’s second score of the game.
Halifax ended the game on something of a bright note when Royston went under the posts, Paterson converting, but that could not sour the Raiders’ celebrations.