Crosfields opened the 2022 season with a hard fought home performance against a solid Barrow Island team who will definitely be in the mix at the business end of the season.

In a much changed side from last season - with many home team players making NCL debuts -Soap got off to a flying start, with a try within the first 2 minutes. Managing to smuggle the ball out of the tackle several times, hooker Jamie Abram ran wide as the ball moved through several pairs of hands before Jack Fox stretched over for the try. Jack Lewis successfully converted for an early 6-0 lead.

The visitors hit back on 7 minutes though, as a neat grubber kick was collected by Adam Jones to touch down and cut the deficit to 2 points.

Crosfields responded with concerted pressure on the opposition line. Joe Barnes managed to waltz through and step over the line for the first of his 3 tries following an awful pass from the base of the scrum from 10 metres out. Lewis again slotted the extras for a 12-4 lead.

Things started to unravel a little as ill discipline crept in to the game with Joe Ryan given the first of his two trips to the bin before half time for a tip tackle on 22 minutes and again on 34 minutes for kicking out. Sandwiched in between the binnings was a moment of brilliance from the lively Joe Barnes, who collected his own grubber kick on the last tackle to cross to extend the lead. Lewis successfully added the extras to go into half time with a healthy 18-4 lead.

Barrow regrouped and started the second half on the front foot with back to back penalties leading to a converted try in the opening 5 minutes from Barrow's Jon Walsh converted by Max Moore. This was backed up as Barrow pushed on and came within two points with Sam Jones scoring a try with Moore again adding the extras following sustained pressure.
The visitors then drew level with a successful penalty from Moore.

This may have been the wrong decision though as Barrow were very much in the ascendency here with Soap on the back foot.

Wilson's men, to their credit dug in deep and managed to ride the storm and on 70 minutes edged back in front as a break from Abram paved the way for another bit of Barnes magic. His step helped him beat three players to register his hattrick and put the home team back in control. Lewis added the extras.

A tense final 10 ensued but Soap's defence held firm and kept Barrow at bay. With the final play of the game, captain Luke Walker managed to get in on the act to round off the scoring and confirm the victory with no time for a restart and the kick missed - the final score ended 28-18.

A tough victory in challenging conditions blighted a little by ill-discipline but a welcome start to a new era at Crosfields as Matty Wilson's reign gets underway with a win.

Man of the match for Crosfields was the excellent Joe Barnes backed up well by Jamie Abram, Tom Brown and Brad Macalpine. Next saturday Soap travel away to Dewsbury Moor