Last updated at 16:47, Wednesday, 27 February 2013

LINE-BREAKING forward Kurt Haggerty is set to go straight back into action for Barrow Raiders on Sunday after shrugging off a knee injury.

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The former Widnes Vikings Super League player hurt his knee in last week’s 20-10 defeat to Batley – just half-an-hour after returning to the field following a one-match suspension.

Haggerty managed to play much of the second half with his knee heavily strapped up, and coach Darren Holt said the news on the 24-year-old has been positive, with him set to feature against Workington Town at Derwent Park on Sunday.

“We came through pretty much unscathed. Kurt Haggerty had a bit of an injury, but he says he’s okay,” said the Barrow boss.

“It was swollen up, but it has cleared now. We’ll have a look at it, but it seems to be okay.

“It was a bonus for us he could come back on in the game and it was a shame he had to come off in the first place, because if he had stayed on, I think he would have made a bit of a difference. We’re just glad it seems to be nothing long-term.”

He added: “Other than that, there were only bumps and bruises – the normal kind of stuff. Everybody seems good to go.”

While Haggerty is set to feature again, Holt will wait to make decisions on when Jamie Butler, Ruairi McGoff and Jack Spencer make their seasonal bows. The forward trio have each been sidelined since the start of pre-season following operations, but have stepped up their training with the expectation they could even feature against Town.

No final decision has been made on whether that will be the case, but Holt said: “We’ll assess them. It’s one of those things – they are getting closer and closer and closer.

“Whether they will be okay for this week, it might be a touch too early, but we won’t know until we see how they train.

“The people I am talking about – Jack Spencer and Jamie Butler – they are coming back from operations and if you throw them in too soon, you run the risk of them getting a knock.

“Not only would it be a knock physically, but it would be a knock mentally as well, so we just have to manage it as best we can.

“As soon as they are deemed fully-fit to go, then they will come into contention. Whether that is this week or not, we’ll see.”

l Barrow Raiders will be running supporters coaches to Sunday’s match at Workington. They will leave Walney Promenade at 10.30am and cost £10 per seat. Bookings can be made at the Rugby Shop, Scott Street, or by calling 01229 820273.

l Raiders’ Championship match at champions Sheffield Eagles on Sunday, April 14, has been moved from Bramall Lane to the Don Valley Stadium.

The match has been switched due to unexpected football commitments involving Sheffield United and will still kick-off at 3pm. Barrow have yet to play at Bramall Lane, with each of their games against Sheffield in the past four years moved to the Don Valley, the Eagles’ previous permanent home.

l The Raiders Bar will be open three nights this week to show live rugby league.

Tomorrow, the Championship match between Batley Bulldogs and Halifax will be screened (7.30pm kick-off, doors open at 7pm).

Super League matches will then be shown on Friday and Saturday, with St Helens v Leeds Rhinos on Friday (8pm kick-off, doors open at 7.30pm) and Widnes v Hull FC the next day (5.45pm kick-off, doors open at 5.15pm).

First published at 16:37, Wednesday, 27 February 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk