Barrow Raiders Ladies recorded their seventh successive victory in the Betfred Women’s Super League, beating Featherstone Rovers Ladies 12-4 at the Championship Summer Bash.
On a big occasion at Headingley, tries from Emily Stirzaker and Vanessa Temple were enough for a win which keeps the Raiders level on points at the top of WSL Group 2 with Warrington Wolves Women.
Sunday’s clash, streamed live on the Our League app, was also just the second Women’s Super League fixture to take place at the Summer Bash since its inception.
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“Coming into the game I knew it was going to be tough,” head coach Amanda Wilkinson said post-match. “One of my big worries was that it was going to be such a big occasion, playing at the Bash.
“I’ve had to keep the girls grounded and work on the stuff that’s going to control the game.
“I’m so pleased for the girls. They were like kids at Christmas in those changing rooms, it was absolutely brilliant.
“We did have to get them settled and focused on the game, because it is such a massive occasion. Some have never played in such a big stadium and been part of an event like this.
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“To be able to come here, with all that happening, and still go out there, perform and get the win, I’m absolutely so proud.”
‘We fight for each other’
She also admits that hopes for the rest of the season are high as they continue to shine in their debut season at this level.
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“Overall, I think we dealt with it pretty well,” Litherland said. “The best thing about us as a team is that we can go and beat teams 50-0 and it clicks, but when we’ve got to get down to the rough and the tough, we fight for each other.”
On the growth of the team, she added: “It’s really good. In the background we’ve got our reserves and the Raiders Girls, so it’s just building and building and building.
“We want to be up there, and competing. We want to try and win the league that we’re in, WSL2. If we can do that, I think it’ll be an overachievement this season.
“The aim at the start was to survive and we’ve already done that.
“There’s no getting carried away. Amanda grounds us at training, and we take it one game at a time, but we’ve definitely got our eyes set on that Grand Final.”
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