By Martin Morgan

Last updated at 10:39, Monday, 30 July 2012

A POWERFUL second-half performance ensured Barrow ended the Cumbrian derby with maximum points and promotion to the Championship.

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Haven were the equals of Barrow in the first-half in terms of quality possession but failed to take their chances and trailed 18-6 at the interval.

And when the hosts lifted their intensity after the break, Haven could not live with them.

Prop Paul Cullnean tried hard, but all the top performers on the night were wearing Barrow shirts.

Second-row Liam Harrison tore in to Haven with vigour, dual-registered Warrington prop Brad Brennan was a handful and Scott Kaighan’s kicking game kept the visitors on the back foot for long periods in the second-half.

Kaighan’s third-minute 40-20 had Haven back-pedalling, though they defended the set well, Andreas Bauer and Carl Sice chopping down prop Jamie Butler just short of the line.

A lofted Kaighan kick moments later, this time to the corner, was not dealt with, however, and Andy Bracek crossed, Ryan Shaw adding the first of his eight goals.

Haven enjoyed the better of the next 10 minutes, with Jamie Rooney to the fore, and Sice putting in a strong shift in defence.

But they lost a little momentum when Jessie Joe Parker’s flick pass on first tackle from a scrum base sailed in to touch.

New signing Tom Hemingway took only 16 minutes to make his mark, the Featherstone loanee touching down off Lee Doran’s short side dummy-half pass. Carl Rudd’s conversion put his side back on level terms.

Liam Campbell has been outstanding this term , and he danced through the defence to again give Barrow the edge on 25 minutes.

Ten minutes later, Haven were under the cosh when Luke Isakka lost possession deep in his own half, and neat handling along the line led to winger Lee Haney crossing out wide.

Three Raiders’ tries within the opening 14 minutes of the second-half ensured Haven would return home without even a bonus point.

The first came from James Nixon, the winger shrugging off a couple of weak attempted tackles on a diagnol run to the line.

With Barrow visibly lifting their intensity, Doran’s pass to Richard Varkulis was knocked on in his own half. And after the sub was then penalised for some rough stuff in a tackle, Don Gailer’s side were pegged on their line.

The excellent Andy Ballard did not need a second invitation and did well to ground the ball over the Haven line under heavy pressure.

The scoreline raced out to 34-6 after Haven were penalised for a ruck infringement on last tackle and Harrison produced another bulldozing run to score.

The most eye-catching run of the game came on the hour mark, Brennan running through Dave Houghton and Bauer before finding fellow prop Butler for a try.

Bauer’s deft kick to the corner moments later signalled Haven’s best spell of the half, Sice and Calvert pinning Ballard behind his line and Calvert then latching on to Rooney’s high kick to score.

On 70 minutes Rooney proved elusive on the way to a touch down of his own. The stand-off converted, but when he was then caught offside, Shaw took advantage with another goal.

Barrow had the final say in the closing seconds, a persistent Liam Finch latching on to a loose ball to end a miserable night for Haven.

Their only consolation was that this was arguably their toughest remaining fixture in the run-in to the end of the season.

But they will face another stern test at promotion rivals Rochdale next time out, when a much stronger showing is essential if their hopes of playing in the Championship next year are to remain on track.

Haven: Bauer, Calvert, Fox, Parker, Wiper, Rooney, Rudd, Houghton, Sice, Cullnean, Beattie, Doran, Hemingway. Subs: Gee, Isakka, Varkulis, Wilson

Tries: Hemingway, Calvert, Rooney

Goals: Rudd 1, Rooney 1

Barrow: Ballard, Haney, Larkin, Shaw, Nixon, Kaighan, Campbell, Brennan, Dandy, Butler, Harrison, Bracek, Toal. Subs: Finch, Ostler, Duffy, Dawson.

Tries: Bracek, Campbell, Haney, Nixon, Ballard, Harrison, Butler, Finch

Goals: Shaw 8

Attendance: 1,710

Referee: Chris Leatherbarrow

Star Man: Paul Cullnean

First published at 11:10, Thursday, 26 July 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk