When these two sides met at the end of January it was a bitterly cold night in Cumbria in the shadows of the famous ship yard. Six months later the heat wave of this week gave us some light relief but it was still a warm and bright day.

Dave Hewitt brought Toby Hughes back into the team to partner Owain Abel in the halves. Lewis Pilling was unlucky to be eighteenth man after some very good performances recently. Sam Bowring picked up a nasty season ending injury right at the end of last week’s match so Danny Lynch returned at prop. Keane Gilford was back in the team on the wing. With Shaun Costello missing Cameron Bate started at loose forward.

Barrow started with former Salford prop Joe Bullock and back rower Ellis Robson. Brad Singleton made the bench alongside Harvey Makin who spent time on loan at Salford in 2025. Winger Luke Broadbent is the son of former Salford fullback Gary.

The Raiders started the match in good form sitting third in the League table with one of the biggest packs in the division. This was one of the main reasons the bookmakers had Salford as 7-1 outsiders to win this match.

Barrow set their stall out in the opening sets to try and bash Salford through the middle. The home side seem to have added a real layer of tough varnish to their defence in recent weeks. Players are no longer being bumped off tackles by bigger opponents, in fact Salford seemed to knock Barrow off their own game forcing mistakes with fearless tackling. 

Owain Abel added a different dimension to the attack last week and he was at it again tying the Raiders in knots as he stepped over for a thrilling try in the seventh minute. Salford made a real hash of the kick off to put themselves back under pressure but more terrific defence kept Barrow out. Cameron Bate who’s been fantastic since his arrival from Bradford continued to play well above his weight and experience. His work rate in defence really caught the eye and he took the ball in with real intent. 

On the back of a penalty and a six again Barrow levelled the score on the midway point of the first half. Full back Luke Cresswell out foxed the Salford defenders who seemed to miss-read the situation. 

The Raiders looked odds on to take the lead but blew at certain try with a very sloppy forward pass.

Joe Hartley has created some magic moments this season and his pass to Gilford was another one. It had to be scored though and Gilford came up with a finish that would have graced a Grand Final. Kieran Dixon converted brilliantly off the touch line, 12-6.

The game became bad tempered at times with plenty of needle in the tackle. I think Barrow were getting frustrated by the resilient nature of this Salford side. Perhaps they weren’t expecting this sort of game but they were definitely in a battle. On the back of  Gilford’s try Brad Dwyer and Brad Walker were sin binned for a scuffle. 

Abel continued to cause problems with his pace and ability to beat players. His clever kick forced a drop out and on the next set Oli Garmston somehow got over for a try from an impossible situation. Garmston is becoming a real master at this. 18-6.

The Raiders really cranked the pressure up and Salford were on the back foot. Reece Stanton came up with two fantastic tackles against Barrow’s rip roaring pack but eventually the opening came when winger Broadbent found the space to go in at the corner. With the flag going over Salford protested the winger was in touch and they seemed to have a case. The referee spoke to his touch judge and the try was given. 

From the kick off Barrow knocked on a very clever Salford kick. This once again highlighted the invention and versatility of Hewitt’s young side. They weren’t afraid to try things and they thoroughly deserved their 18-12 half time lead.

Both sides traded sets at the start of the second half and it took seventeen second half minutes before Barrow finally got level. Two six agains and a penalty hit Salford hard. Broadbent found plenty of space to score his second try and the touch line conversion sailed over 18-18.

Just after the hour mark Salford received a penalty within range and Dixon didn’t hesitate booting his side back into the lead at 20-18. Barrow were well and truly rattled. Half back Ryan Johnston argued with the referee and had plenty to say to the crowd too. Salford needed that killer try. An eight point lead would surely put the game beyond the Raiders but credit had to go to the visitors who defended so well. 

With seven minutes left Brad Dwyer left the field with a head knock and Salford frantically attacked looking for the knockout blow. A penalty got Barrow out of the danger zone and when another one followed Walker didn’t hesitate and he slowly lined up the conversion which was on point, 20-20.

A huge call turned the match in the closing stages, the referee signalled a Barrow knock on but his touch judge had seen it differently. The decision seemed to change to a Barrow penalty leaving a kick at goal for Walker to give his side the lead for the first time in the match. Walker nailed it 20-22.

Salford refused to give in and when Barrow knocked on from the kick off only seventy five seconds remained. One set to finish the game. Sadly for Salford the glorious finish they probably deserved didn’t materialise and Barrow held on to snatch victory in what was a fantastic contest.

Despite defeat Salford really came of age in this match. It’s testament to everyone involved at the club how far they have come over the past six months. It’s a very long road but Salford aren’t turning back. There is no chance of that!

Salford 20 Barrow 22.

Paul Whiteside.

Big thanks to Gareth Lyons for the photos.