Barrow Raiders were knocked out of the Betfred Challenge Cup on Saturday as Oldham edged an old-school affair 22-10 at the Northern Competitions Stadium.

Poor weather leading up to the day of the game meant it would likely be a forward battle, and so it proved as the two teams were well-matched for large spells.

An early Ryan Shaw penalty put the Raiders ahead inside five minutes, then James Greenwood was on-hand to cross for the game’s opening try under the posts as Oldham failed to deal with Ryan Johnston’s teasing kick towards the posts.

Shaw’s conversion put the Raiders eight points ahead, but the lead would be cut soon after as Ben O’Keefe dived on a grubber kick towards the in-goal to grab the visitors’ first points of the afternoon.

Another Shaw penalty on the stroke of half-time made it 10-4, but injuries either side of half-time for James Greenwood and Charlie Emslie ultimately took their toll as a depleted Raiders forward pack were unable to earn themselves field position, in a second half which saw Oldham bag 18 unanswered points.

Matty Wildie raced out of dummy half and dived over from close range to level the scores before Adam Lawton crashed over shortly after the hour mark to see the visitors hit the front for the first time.

Reduced in numbers even further after Adam Jackson was forced off, the Raiders chanced their arm as they looked to find a response but were hit with a sucker-punch as O’Keefe intercepted a loose pass near halfway and raced over to put the game out of sight.

A scuffle between both sets of players resulted in Luke Broadbent being shown a red card with virtually the last act of the contest, but it did little to alter the outcome as Oldham progressed to the fourth round, where they will visit Swinton Lions.

The Raiders still have cup matters to contend with later in the month, having already progressed to the knockout stages of the 1895 Cup.

The draw for the quarter-finals have yet to be made.

BARROW RAIDERS 10

Tries: James Greenwood

Goals: Ryan Shaw 3

OLDHAM 22

Tries: Ben O’Keefe 2, Matty Wildie, Adam Lawton

Goals: Jamie Ellis 3

Paul Crarey reaction

Head coach Paul Crarey gives an honest assessment of Saturday’s cup defeat.

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