Match Report | Barrow Raiders 18-16 Sheffield Eagles

14/06/2026

By Spencer Arnold

The Eagles were narrowly defeated 18-16 at Barrow Raiders on Saturday evening in Round 16 of the Betfred Championship.

Craig Lingard made three changes from the side that lost to London Broncos last time out as his team made a return to action after three weeks off.

Both sides tested each other’s mettle from the very beginning of the fixture, with some close encounters with either tryline just coming short due to last-minute errors. 

However, it was the Eagles that opened the scoring when a penalty was given due to offside. Jordan Abdull capitalised with an easy kick from in front to hand his side an early two point lead.

Strong and efficient defence kept the hosts off the scoreline, but the home side did go on to score the first try of the game just before the twenty-minute mark as Ryan King barged over to score from close-range.

Alex Foster came close to scoring just moments later for the Eagles, but a knock on in the process of grounding the ball kept Sheffield tryless, which was almost immediately preceded by another try for Barrow after Harvey Makin crashed through just beneath the sticks in the 23rd minute.

A rapid Kieran Gill and Alex Foster break, and a subsequent offload to Billy Walkley, gave the Eagles the try they needed to force their way back into the game. 

Building off of this momentum, it didn’t take Sheffield long to get another, with Connor Bower’s drive towards the tryline bringing the visitors level just a few minutes before halftime. 

Yet again, it was the Eagles that opened the scoring in the second half, with Billy Walkley bagging himself a brace after capitalising on a precision grubber from Jordan Abdull to the corner. 

Twenty minutes of close efforts followed for both sides, with the hosts and visitors getting within inches of each other’s trylines numerous times. 

But it was Barrow who pushed the score back level one last time, when Ellis Robson managed to ground the ball out wide after he was played through on the last tackle.

Despite some more almost chances for the Raiders, it was a penalty in the final five minutes through Brad Walker that pushed them back ahead and gifted them the win. 

The Eagles will be back in league action next Sunday at home when they welcome Whitehaven to the MEPS International Home of Football Stadium (3pm KO).

Barrow Raiders: Cresswell, Tulman, Teare, Toal, Broadbent, B.Walker, Johnston, Bullock, Bishop, T.Walker, Robson, Stack, King

Interchanges (all used): Emslie, Richards, Makin, Forber

18th Man: Watson

Tries: King (18’), Makin (23’), Robson (65’)

Goals: B.Walker (2/3)

Penalties: B.Walker (1/1)

Sheffield Eagles: Brown, Millar, Oakes, Gill, Walkley, Morgan, Abdull, Matongo, Johnson, Reilly, Bower, Foster, Griffin

Interchanges (all used): Butterworth, Broadbent, Peachey, Eden

18th Man: Ellis

Tries: Walkley (30’, 46’), Bower (36’)

Goals: Abdull (1/3)

Penalties: Abdull (1/1)