It was #RememberRycroft night at Odsal, a cause close to our hearts at RLFANS, as the Bradford Bulls took on the Barrow Raiders in a fifth against thirteenth battle which could see the visitors out of the relegation places if they could pull off a win against a Bulls side who were looking to consolidate in the play-off places.

Donations were still open with JustGiving as a fabulous fundraising effort for three great charities heads for the £50,000 mark in remembrance of Rycroft Alport Foster, thanks to massive and generous support from the rugby league community.

The bookies could only see one winner, the Bulls winning it for Rycroft’s memory and they had given the visitors a massive points start on the coupon. The Cumbrians were just making up the numbers.

Bradford spilled the kick-off for a terrible start to the night and when Barrow went in on the last tackle of the resulting set, the final pass was ruled forward by referee Worsley.

The Bull first real attack was also thwarted on six minutes by a rugged Barrow defence, it looked like it might not be as straightforward as first thought for the home side.

Adam Jackson dropped a pass with the line open on sixteen when it would have been more difficult to score, the Raiders spurning good early chances as the tribute to Rycroft rang out around the stadium.

The first points came from the boot of Ryan Shaw after a penalty was gifted twenty metres out, it was no less than the visitors deserved. Shaw added a second after a high tackle on twenty-two, this one from forty-five metres out.

Another moment of Bradford indiscipline as Patton was high in his tackle and enabled Sha to add a third penalty goal, doing into two’s as they edged into a 6-0 lead.

George Taufua was red carded on thirty-three after biting an opponent as he was tackled to the ground. The Bulls down to twelve for forty-seven minutes, Shaw kicking another penalty goal for an eight-point lead.

Shaw missed a kick on the stroke of half time, but his side took the points equivalent of a two try lead into the sheds.

Yet another penalty for Barrow set the scoreboard spinning again on fifty minutes when Shaw goaled from close to the right touchline for 10-0.

The Bull finally hit the scoreboard on fifty-three with Jayden Myers grounding a delightful Lee Gaskell grubber kick to the corner. The kick was wide of the uprights, the Bulls still six behind.

Joe Arundel failed to ground a Dec Patton grubber which would have levelled the scores on fifty-seven. Barrow took full advantage as they moved downfield in five fluid tackles before moving the ball wide right through a fractured Bulls defence with Jarrad Stack finding Shaw to score in the corner. This time Shaw was off target, Barrow with a 14-4 lead.

Barry Langtree left the field on seventy-four with an injury as the Raiders ran out of substitutes, both sides down to twelve for the closing six minutes.

Bradford set up a grandstand finish when Ben Blackmore took a Gaskell long pass to score unopposed in the right corner. Gaskell added the conversion, the sides now just four points apart.

With the Bulls on the front foot, a late hit on the Barrow kicker Ryan Johnson eased the pressure as Shaw took his time to kick the resulting penalty, but he hit the far upright. As Bradford worked the ball out they were tackled into touch and the Barrow Raiders secured a tremendous win.

The win is a massive lifeline for the Cumbrians and lifts them above Keighley and Swinton into eleventh place in the table and a step closer to securing Championship rugby in 2024. Bradford’s league position is unchanged, but they are now looking nervously over their shoulder at the chasing pack and Widnes and London who are wanting to claim a spot in the end of season play-offs. No-one gave the Raiders and chance but they upset the odds and the bookies with a fantastic win.

Bradford Bulls: Holmes, Blackmore (T), Myers (T), Gill, Taufua (SO on 33), Gaskell (G), Patton, Matongo, Flanagan Snr, Lawrence, Arundel, Wallace, Baitieri. Subs: Lilley, Scurr, Rogers, Appo. 18th Man: Okoro. 

Barrow Raiders: Broadbent, Shaw (T, 5G), Eckersley, Toal, Bulman, Jackson, Johnston, Burke, Wood, Makin, Langtree, Stack, Worthington.  Subs: Cresswell, Emslie, Rothwell, Wilkinson. 18th Man: Saunders.

Half-Time: 0-8.

Full-Time: 10-14.

Score Progression: 0-2, 0-4, 0-6, (SO), 0-8 : HT: 0-10, 4-10, 4-14, 8-14, 10-14 : FT.

Lead Exchanges: Barrow.

Referee: Cameron Worsley.