GARY Hetherington has praised the travelling Barrow Raiders fans for contributing to a memorable atmosphere at Headingley during Sunday’s Challenge Cup tie against Leeds Rhinos.

Raiders sold 624 tickets ahead of the sixth-round clash away to the Super League side, with a total of 13 buses ferrying the supporters who packed the Western Terrace to Leeds on the day.

The total attendance of 5,226 was some way below the Rhinos’ average home crowd for a Super League game, but Leeds chief executive Hetherington was left impressed and hailed the conduct of the Barrow fans who cheered the players for the entire 80 minutes of the 72-10 defeat,

“We inevitably don’t get anywhere near the size of the crowd for cup ties as we do with Super League games, which is really disappointing, but I thought Sunday was a terrific occasion and the 5,000 people who were present from Leeds and Barrow made for a really good atmosphere,” said Hetherington.

“I thought the game itself had some really good quality rugby played by both teams and the score didn’t really reflect the game. Barrow tried from the start to the finish and I thought the fans made for a terrific atmosphere.

“The way they supported the team from the start to the final whistle was a great credit to them, and I think the comments we’ve had back from our own supporters and stewards was the Barrow fans were a credit to both the club and to the game.

“It was a really terrific following from the Barrow fans which, in many ways, put Super League clubs to shame because there aren’t many Super League clubs who bring as many fans as Barrow did.”

The tie came just over 60 years to the day since Leeds edged out Barrow 9-7 in the 1957 Challenge Cup final at Wembley, with Loiners players from the final, including captain Keith McLellan, George Broughton Jr and Lewis Jones, in attendance on Sunday. The club had held a reunion dinner on the Thursday prior to this latest meeting of the teams as well, which saw Bill Oxley Jr and Keith Nutter among those representing Barrow, plus a video interview with ex-player and Wembley finalist Don Wilson.

Those former players at Sunday’s game will have no doubt been heartened by the scenes when the final hooter sounded, with players and supporters of both teams showing their appreciation for each other.

“At the final whistle, the players embraced each other, as they do, but for our players to recognise the Barrow fans and for the Barrow players to come in front of the South Stand and receive recognition from the Leeds supporters – and that was totally spontaneous – I thought to myself ‘is there any other sport where this could happen?’” said Hetherington.

“The conclusion is: No. You wouldn’t see that in any other sport and that, in many ways, epitomises the characteristics and DNA of rugby league. It was all there on show on Sunday and it all made for a special occasion. It’s ironic in many ways that it coincided almost 60 years to the day of the two clubs meeting at Wembley. On the day, we had players there from that match, so it was special for them as well.”

It was a special day for the young players from Barrow Island and Askam as well, with the former accompanying the Barrow players onto the pitch as mascots and both teams going up against sides from the Leeds area on the Headlingley turf at half-time.

Hetherington was pleased to see the community departments from both clubs able to speak on the day as well, and hopes it will lead to a bond growing between the sides.

“They made some really good connections and it was a great experience for the kids from the Barrow area who came and participated on the day,” he said. “Our respective development coaches have made some really good connections with each other and we’re looking to do a camp in the Barrow area in the not-to-distant future. It has certainly strengthened links there, for sure.”