Barrow Raiders got off to a flying start in their Super-8s campaign, writes BOB HERBERT.

They had lost twice to Rochdale Hornets this season but the attitude of the players from the off made it clear they were not going down without a fight this time.

They pushed aside the Hornets with a great all-round performance that brought a 34-12 victory.

A man down throughout the second half – following the dismissal of Danny Morrow – they just got stuck in, were right in the Hornets’ faces, produced some great defensive work and showed, in decent underfoot conditions, they can be something special.

Their performance certainly warranted a better gate than the 913 who attended. There was a bright opening and Liam Harrison went over after six minutes but the referee spotted an infringement.

However, it took Barrow just another three minutes for a try that counted. From a penalty the ball was sent along the line and Ryan Fieldhouse went in at the right corner – but too far out for Chris Hankinson to convert.

There was a great pressure- relieving run from Eze Harper, taking the ball from the Barrow line into the Rochdale half.

But the ball was soon back in the Barrow danger area and Tilley and Crowley linked up before sending Yates in under the posts.

The conversion gave the visitors the lead. Barrow dug in and sub Brad Brennan, on the field for less than 60 seconds, crashed over after Martin Aspinwall had been stopped under the sticks.

And just before the half hour Jamie Dallymore sold an outrageous dummy to go over under the posts and Barrow were worth every point of their 16-6 lead.

However, their task to hold on was made all the more difficult two minutes before the interval when Danny Morrow upended Jordan Case in a tackle and the Hornets player crashed down on his head. It brought Morrow a red card from referee Jamie Bloom.

Now could Barrow survive being a man down? The key would be which side got the first try of the second half. Then it looked as if anything was possible from Barrow when Joe Bullock cashed in on an error by Super League winger Tom Lineham, one of three Rochdale players on loan from Warrington.

Bullock seized his chance and was over in a flash. And with Rochdale losing their composure and their tempers, just before the hour mark Chris Fleming finished off a blindside move.

Then that epitome of a super sub – Brad Brennan – was again on the field less than a minute when he swivelled his way over the line and grounded the ball when it looked as if he was going to be held up.

The final minute saw Rochdale get a consolation try from Kevin Penny, another loan man with a Super League pedigree.