Barrow Raiders head coach Paul Crarey was keen to emphasise the positives after his side bowed out of the Betfred Challenge Cup, despite a spirited display against Huddersfield Giants.

The Raiders matched their Super League opponents for large spells but were unable to make their territorial advantage count in the final quarter as Ian Watson’s side booked their place in the quarter-finals of the competition with to a 30-16 victory.

Tee Ritson maintained his fine scoring form with an excellent double at the Matt Johnson Prestige Stadium, while captain Jarrad Stack also crossed for the hosts.

Speaking post-match, Crarey says his side performed admirably against tough opposition, but insists they will need to regroup quickly ahead of Sunday’s Betfred Championship clash against Batley Bulldogs. 

“I was [very proud of the display],” he said. “In the first half, a couple of times we were poor at the end of sets and we got ourselves in a bit of trouble.

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“[We conceded] a couple of soft tries, one before half-time and one at the end. Take them away and we win the game.

“That’s what it’s like at this level. You’ve got to be consistent, you’ve got to be on it. You have to think fast all the time. The game is so quick, you haven’t got time to settle.

“I thought we were magnificent in our process. We just needed a try with six minutes to go to give us a real good chance.”

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Over 3,000 supporters watched in-person as the Raiders pushed the Giants to the limit as both sides battled it out for a place in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals. 

The BBC cameras were also in attendance, and Crarey says the entertaining contest gave the club real exposure as they turn their attention to building momentum on the league front. 

“It was a really good day for the club; a massive crowd, TV cameras and a great spectacle,” the Raiders head coach added.

“We’ve picked up a few injuries, but now it’s about preparing for Batley. 

“They’re probably rubbing their hands with the effort we put in [today], because we’ve got to back it up now. 

“We’ll rehab on Monday, come back in on Wednesday and we’ll go from there.”

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