Barrow Raiders head coach Paul Crarey insists his players have reason to be optimistic ahead of Sunday’s crucial Betfred Championship meeting with Keighley Cougars at the Matt Johnson Prestige Stadium.
The Raiders had won two of their last three leagues matches heading into last weekend’s trip to Featherstone Rovers, but they were put to the sword by a clinical display of attacking riches by Rovers in West Yorkshire.
It ended 64-6 at the Millennium Stadium, and despite that result, Crarey has challenged his players to get back to the level of performance they showed in last month’s Summer Bash victory over local rivals Whitehaven.
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“We’ve won two out of the last four games. It was a difficult game at Featherstone, we knew that with the young squad that we put out,” he said.
“We did really well against [Whitehaven] at the Bash. I thought we were really well structured, scored some nice tries and looked a solid outfit, so we’ve got to get back to that.
“I know Featherstone upset the apple cart a little bit. I spoke to [Rovers head coach] Sean Long after the match and he said it was the best they’d played for a long, long time.
“We never packed in at the back end of the first half. We were at 97% completion and were 30-0 down, so that’s how good they were.
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“We’re not taking a lot out of it, only the fact that these people who we want to get back in the fold and give an opportunity to, we’ve done that and they’ve come through with flying colours.”
Sunday’s fixture against Keighley will from part of a Raiders double-header, with Barrow Ladies also taking to the field against Castleford Tigers Women at midday.
Entry before that time costs £5 and will enable supporters to stay and watch both matches, with exciting post-match entertainment also taking place in the Raiders Marquee.
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