Barrow Island 28

A TRY either side of half-time by Barrow second-row Darren McLean changed the course of the game as Brook stumbled to their first home league defeat of the season.

Brook started the game brightly and should have scored in the opening minutes. Darren Woods broke clear down the right but his pass to Craig Lyon went to ground and the chance was lost.

They eventually opened their account on 10 minutes when scrum-half Phil Anderton was hauled down inches short before hooker Andy Rawsthorne powered his way over. Paul Toole added the conversion.

Toole then looked set to add to Brook's tally only to be halted within inches of the try line.

The big Barrow side took full advantage of this let-off when McLean grabbed his first, goaled by Darren Carter, to tie the scores at the break.

McLean's second and a try by Ian Rowlinson, with Carter adding his second conversion, saw the visitors open up a 16-6 lead within seven minutes of the restart. Brook strived to get back into contention but struggled to get out of their own half as the Cumbrians took a stranglehold on the game.

The homesters' hopes were dealt a body-blow with a dismissal midway through the second reducing them to 12 men and further tries by Liam Harrison and Carter, with the latter converting both, wrapped the game up for the visitors.

Second-row Jimmy Forshaw was selected as the Nexus man-of-the-match for a below-par home side.

Brook will be looking to bounce back on Saturday when they entertain Oulton Raiders in the Powergen Challenge Cup, kick-off 1.30pm.