BARROW Raiders Ladies signed off their Women’s Challenge Cup in style with a 46-0 demolition of Salford Red Devils.

Amanda Wilkinson’s side had lost their previous two cup encounters meaning that whatever the result yesterday, this season’s Challenge Cup run would end at the group stages.

But they certainly finished with a flourish as the Devils were put to the sword.

Raiders got off to a flying start when Mia Dobson crashed over the line with just two minutes on the clock. Skipper Jodie Litherland added the conversion to put the visitors 6-0 up.

Just 10 minutes later, they increased their lead thanks to a Claire Hutchinson try, with the conversion unsuccessful.

As the halfway point approached in the opening half, there was yet more success for Wilkinson’s side – Vanessa Temple touched down and Litherland added the extras to put the Cumbrians 20-0 up.

Temple crossed again on the half hour and Litherland converted to put them in front 26-0, which was how it stayed come the half-time whistle.

Raiders weren’t taking their foot off the gas when the action resumed and started with Temple making it a hat-trick of tries. There was no conversion this time around.

Beth Lindsay was next to touch down for Raiders, giving them a 34-0 lead with the extras again missed.

Minutes later another conversion was missed after Sammy Norman had added a try to extend Raiders’ lead to 38-0.

Kelly Friend scored a try before the hour mark, but again the extras weren’t added.

Alice Rush’s try rounded off the scoring for the away side as they completed a 46-0 rout.

The victory and display was the perfect confidence builder ahead of the Women’s Super League opener.

Wilkinson’s history-makers will be the first Cumbrian side to play in the Super League when they travel to face Wigan Warriors on Friday, April 19.

They suffered a narrow 20-18 defeat at home to Warriors Women in the previous round of the Challenge Cup.

But it was never about the cup for Raiders this season, their debut season in the highest tier of the women’s game is the be all and end all.

And they will go into it on a high after this success.