Blackpool Panthers 34 Barrow Raiders 26

Probably Panthers best result since joining the league some 4 years ago and well deserved it was.

Blackpool made a bright start on a balmy afternoon on the Fylde coast and were rewarded with Darryl Kaye sending Casey Mayberry over in the third minute, with Martin Keaveney crossing from dummy half just three minutes later, much to the amazement of the visiting supporters. Barrow finally got into their stride, taking nine minutes to complete their first set of six, and they hit back with three tries in nine minutes. James Nixon scored from Darren Holt’s opportunist grubber kick before Andy Ellis darted over from dummy –half and Brad Nicholls sent Nick Beech over to put the Raiders in front.

Blackpool regrouped and replacement hooker Craig Tunstead forced a repeat set but Jon Warriner spilled the goal line drop out. Barrow then withstood further pressure before Holt darted from a scrum, with Nicholls in support to give them a 22-12 half time lead.

Winger Nixon stretched their advantage to 14 after bursting down the left, but Keaveney’s quick reply from Andy Wallace’s smart offload gave Blackpool hope. The hosts spurned a 40-20 before Damien Munroe put the Panthers within two after intersepting a Dave Armistead pass. A fierce Kaye tackle then forced a goal-line drop out and Chris Forster’s grubber bounced off a Barrow man for Johnny Leather to regain the lead with 13 minutes left. The visitors piled on the pressure but Kaye burst through the Barrow line from close range to seal a memorable victory.

Coach Martin Crompton hailed the victory as a massive achievement for Blackpool after finishing rock bottom the last two years and losing 62-6 at york last week. I’ve always believed we had a performance like that in us – all it was down to was effort and belief in themselves.

Attendance 475

Man of the match Darryl Kaye