Match Report: Newcastle Thunder v Barrow Raiders Betfred Championship Round 11

Newcastle Thunder and Barrow Raiders played out a hard fought, entertaining encounter in the north east where everything was left out on the pitch and neither side took a backwards step.

Thunder were the first to score when Jordan Lipp got on the end of a kick that bounced up for him to score, Will Roberts converted to give Thunder an early 6-0 lead. On ten minutes Brad Ward continued his try scoring form as Thunder went wide and Joe Law put Ward in the left corner to score, Will Roberts added the conversion to extend the lead to 12-0.

That changed on twenty five minutes when Jordan Lipp in another assured performance at fullback scored the try of the game, he looked to go on the outside and then ghosted back inside to score, Roberts converted and Thunder led 18-0.

The next period of play summed up the first half with both teams conceding penalties and frustratingly for both coaches they weren’t completing sets. Barrow did find a way over the line when Ryan King who was impressive this afternoon ran a nice line to score, Brad Walker converted and took the score to 18-8.

Both teams were getting frustrated and the game was threatening to reach boiling point, when Thunder were awarded a penalty just before half time they chose to take the two points which Roberts converted.

Barrow came out and upped their physicality in the second half and Thunder matched that, tackles were flying in and the referee called the captains together. Thunder scored to extend their lead after a Harvey Reynolds break, quick ball found its way to Ward to score his second of the afternoon, Roberts missed the conversion.

Barrow then went short from kick off and got the ball, it worked its way to Luke Broadbent who scored in the right corner. The two teams came together again and after Walker had converted Broadbent and Noah Whittingham were shown yellow cards for their part.

The teams traded tries with Nikau Williams scoring and Roberts converting for Thunder. Barrow replied through Tee Ritson and a Walker conversion. Barrow who never went away had their tails up with the score at 30-18, Thunder were holding on and defending manfully. The game changer came on seventy four minutes when King Vuniyayawa broke and scored, Roberts converted and that sucked the life out of Barrow.

Taylor Pemberton added a drop goal on seventy six minutes and the final try was scored just before the hooter when Ryan King went over for his second of the afternoon in a performance where he gave Barrow front foot ball. That brought an end to a pulsating Championship clash where Barrow always looked dangerous and threw a lot at Thunder. They’ll be frustrated with their lack of completions in the first half especially.

For Thunder it’s another win and they’ll be happy to come through such a ferocious encounter with a victory that keeps them in touch with the top teams in the competition.

by Phil World