THE newly-formed Furness Raiders have been thrown into the deep end of the National College League Cup.

Excitement is mounting as the under-19s side prepare to face highly-rated Hopwood Hall of Rochdale at Craven Park in the competition on March 2.

Furness Raiders’ season kicks off in September, and they were not expecting to compete at this stage of their development but got the opportunity to feature after a team dropped out of the competition.

The youngsters are training hard ahead of a clash which is sure to test their credentials.

Head coach Darren Carter is anticipating a tough exam for his squad against a side led by former Bradford Bulls centre and ex-Halifax coach Matt Calland.

“It was something we didn’t know we were going to be entered into, to be honest,” said Carter. “Luckily for us we have been put in the national cup, drawn at home on March 2 against Hopwood Hall.

“It will be a really tough game for us, a baptism of fire really I imagine. But it will be great for the lads because it is going to give us a benchmark and see where we are and what the standard is going to be like.

“It is our first ever game and we are trying to make it a big occasion.

“We are really excited about it because it is an opportunity to test ourselves against probably one of the best sides.

“It is an opportunity for the fans of Barrow to come down and watch us play. It’s a really good game to start off on our journey really, we couldn’t have picked a better game. We didn’t expect to be entered in the cup this year because we weren’t supposed to be, but because a team has dropped out they have brought us into it which is really good.

“We will probably only be able to play 17 on that day because it is a cup game so they are all pushing for a place, the competition is really tough anyway, they are training hard.”

Paul Crarey’s dream of seeing academy rugby league return to Barrow became a reality this year, after Barrow Raiders formed a partnership with Furness College to put out an under-19s side to compete in the Premier Division of the RFL College League.

There, the level three academy side will face the likes of other college teams from Wigan and Warrington as well as Yorkshire and Humberside.

The Furness Raiders college squad of 26 hand-picked lads will play all of their home matches at Craven Park with coaches hoping for a series of friendlies in the build-up to the season which kicks off in September.

Carter – assisted by Dave High team manager Dennis Porter and administrator Keith Nutter – added: “As a coaching group we were talking after training how impressed we are with them all and how enjoyable it has been for the coaches.

“When all the players are training hard like they are it does make our life very easy and it makes it all the more rewarding.

“I am really pleased with how things are going, we are excited about our first game and we are really happy with the commitment and enthusiasm of all the players, it’s been first class.

“It is the first step for a lot of these players and all eyes are going to be on them in the next few years to see how they develop. I am pleased for them.”