THERE’S no excuses - that was the message from Barrow Raiders head coach Paul Crarey after their opening Championship defeat 44-8 away to Widnes Vikings.

Raiders appeared to be architects of their own downfall as they reacted to refereeing decisions.

Brad Walker was sent off and skipper Jarrad Stack and Ryan Shaw both had spells in the sin bin.

All three appeared punished for reacting to decisions from the match officials.

And speaking to the club’s official YouTube channel, Crarey said that is something that can’t be allowed to continue.

“I aint going to condone any offensive language to referees and dissent. I think it’s a poor from us to have men in the bin for that.

“Sometimes you can go in because of a bad tackle or a mistimed tackle, but to go in there for dissent I think it just puts pressure on the whole team.

“I spoke to them in the dressing room and said the only people that will affect this is us as a group.

“We aint got a big enough squad because of our budget situation, and we can’t afford anyone off the field with the injuries we have sustained (at Widnes) and the bans we might get.

“I don’t know what’s gone on (with the sending off and sin bins), so I will have to speak to Bradley about that and to (Jarrad Stack) Stacky and Ryan Shaw.

“But I’m very disappointed in the manner in which we dealt with the situation.”

Crarey felt his side were in the game with the full quota of players on the field, but an already difficult task was made impossible when Raiders went down to 10 men.

He added: “It was frustrating. We got into a grind and they scored a long-range try or try that started off their goalline when we put a poor kick in.

“I think Shaw had shepherded their winger out and I didn’t think there was anything in it to be fair, and they got a professional foul, and from there all chaos broke out and we were down to 10 men in the blink of an eye.

“After that it was it was very difficult, and then it was damage limitation.

“The lads on the field worked very hard, but it just wasn’t enough. They were just walking in on the edges and knocking the flags out.

“We are a victim of our own means really, and I’m very disappointed.

“I thought they were better in almost every department. They kicked the ball well, and we were starting sets off our own goalline.

“They showed us really what we did at Wakefield where we turned them round and got some repeat sets.

“Our first score was on the back of three repeats sets, that kept us in the game.

“After that it was set for set and we were in a grind, and I was quite comfortable that we’d get an opportunity.

“Then (Greg) Burke goes down and never moved (before being stretchered off), so we will wait to find out what is happening with him.

“Then (Aaron) Smith hadn’t been long on and it looks like he’s done the ligaments in his knee. So, we had no rotation, we are down to 10 men and the scoreline is a blow out.”