CUMBRIA’S County Championship-winning amateur side gave Barrow Raiders a run for their money at the weekend.

The two sides clashed in Barrow’s opening pre-season friendly and Paul Crarey’s Cumbria made sure the Raiders worked hard for their 30-10 victory.

Barrow set off with all guns blazing under new coach, former Workington Town star Darren Holt.

And they racked up an 18-0 lead by the half time break with a brace of tries from James Nixon, and two also from Chris Larkin, Scott Kaighan landing one conversion.

Then into the second half and the amateurs began hit back, Egremont full-back Rhys Davies came close to scoring on two occasions in the opening minutes.

Then Cumbria finally narrowed the gap to 18-10 thanks to tries from Lee Edwards and Stuart Tippett, with Sam Dowsett converting one.

Tippett was nearly in for his second but was bundled into touch and in the closing minutes Barrow struck back with tries for Martin Ostler and Liam Harrison, Kaighan converting both for the 30-10 scoreline.

Barrow Raiders Starting XIII: Lee Haney, James Nixon, Chris Larkin, Andy Litherland, Mike Backhouse, Scott Kaighan, Liam Campbell, Lee Dutton, Brad Marwood, Andries Venter, Liam Harrison, Martin Ostler, Dan Toal.

Substitutes: Ruairi McGoff, Andrew Dawson, Mike Botes, James Dandy, Andy Bracek, Marc Dixon, James Gordon, Darren Holt, Aaron Low.

BARLA Cumbria Select Starting XIII: Rhys Davies, Chris Highton, Scott Lofthouse, Paul Hopper, Stuart Tippett, Richard George, Ian Irving, David Lowery, Chris Reid, Jack Sutherland, Lee Edwards, Danny Morrow, Tom Spedding.

Substitutes: Sam Dowsett, Lee Edmondson, Adam Nicholson, Mark Foster, Kieron Glenn, Ryan Birkby, Paul Lowery, Phil Holliday.

Referee: Gareth Hewer.

Attendance: 932.