PLAYING a National Conference League Premier Division side on their own ground is never easy, so well done to the Raiders who came away from the Castleton Sports Centre, home of Rochdale Mayfield, with a hard-earned 46-18 victory.

Jamie Dallimore grabbed a hat-trick of tries as we advanced to the League One Cup quarter-finals to play old friends Keighley Cougars at Craven Park in April. An excellent draw against a side we comfortably beat in a friendly a couple of weeks ago so the day out in Blackpool is getting closer.

The Rochdale press were pleased with Mayfield’s performance and stated: “Despite defeat Mayfield gave a good account of themselves in front of a large crowd. The fans were happy with their efforts, if not the application – and know they'll have another crack at the professionals next week.”

Yes tomorrow is Challenge Cup third round day and Mayfield are our opponents once again.

Paul Crarey won’t be taking any chances after conceding 18 points and said of last week’s battle “It was a really tough, physical encounter and our lads will have some bumps and bruises which we hope to return on Sunday.”

We have been 30-0 up against three sides this season and in every case we have taken our foot off the pedal and allowed the opposition to get back in the game. It happens a lot and I know it’s very difficult to maintain 100 per cent concentration when you are coasting, but we have got to be ruthless.

Mayfield played Saddleworth Rangers in the Oldham Standard Cup semi-final on Wednesday and won 24-18 so that’s two tough games in four days and hopefully a bit of fatigue will set in and we can take full advantage.

We need success in the Challenge Cup in order to generate some welcome income, and in the next round all Championship clubs come into the draw.

Elsewhere in the cup Whitehaven travel to West Hull which won’t be easy and in-form Workington Town go to Newcastle Thunder.

They played each other last week with Town comfortably winning, but the game had to be delayed by an hour and a quarter because the Whitehaven club’s medical kit was not completely up-to-date.

The doctor on duty had to obtain new drugs for potentially life-threatening injuries and, once they were in place, the tie could get under way, so a lesson there for all clubs. Check the medical bag!

I was also surprised to learn that Town’s stalwart board members, vice chairman Mark Fryer and associate director Tony Boyd, who have been the public face of the rugby club for the last decade, stood down last week.

Mark Fryer said: “It’s been a difficult decision to make. Being vice-chair of the club has been the hardest but best thing I’ve ever done.”

I know how true that is after my short spell on the Raiders board, so I think we should applaud the current board of directors at Barrow for all their hard work in keeping the club going.

Elsewhere in the cup newcomers Toronto Wolfpack play their first competitive match against National Conference champions Siddal. Following this match, their opening five league games will be played in England.

They then go over to Toronto to play five games with opponents, including Raiders, flying out to play them. Barrow expect to leave Furness on a Thursday morning, play the game on Saturday and then fly home on Sunday.

Wolfpack chairman Eric Perez argues that players would rather spend eight hours on a flight, than six hours on a coach. But now their campaign is about to get under way, the proof of whether this business model can work will finally be tested.

Interesting times. Se you tomorrow!