WHERE: Rochdale.

WHEN: March 8, 2008.

BARROW Raiders will hope for an easier time against Rochdale Mayfield in today's Challenge Cup third round tie than when the sides last met in the competition nine years ago.

Dave Clark's side were drawn away to the National Conference League Premier Division side that year and headed down to the Mayfield Sports Centre on the back of an indifferent start to the season.

The group stages of the Northern Rail Cup had seen Barrow record just two wins up to that point – both of which came against Blackpool Panthers – and the two matches prior to this Challenge Cup tie had seen them beaten 78-0 away to Widnes Vikings and 26-14 at home to Leigh Centurions.

And although the Raiders eventually ran out 30-10 victors in the match against Mayfield, they were made to work for it after trailing 10-8 at half time.

The signs were ominous when Mayfield forced Andrew Beattie into conceding a drop-out straight from the kick off, while a string of handling errors made it impossible for the visitors to capitalise on a number of early penalties awarded in their favour.

Worse was to come for Barrow when the hosts took the lead through captain Steve Gartland with just under a quarter-of-a-hour gone, although they did manage to even things up on 21 minutes through James Finch after Mayfield had Dave Harmer sin-binned following a confrontation.

But despite being a man down, Mayfield retook the lead three minutes later when Adam Hughes powered through a gap in the defence and Paul Rolls added the conversion.

It remained that way until just before the hooter sounded for the interval, with Mike Backhouse going over in the corner for an unconverted score which left Barrow with a two-point deficit.

Mayfield continued to threaten when play resumed, but Backhouse's second try of the match saw the Raiders edge ahead seven minutes into the second half.

James Nixon's try nine minutes later – coming after he was set clear by Pat Weisner ,who also kicked the conversion – broke the amateurs' resistance though and two quick converted scores from Lee Dutton and Martin Ostler on 63 and 65 minutes proved enough to put the result beyond doubt.

Barrow would go on to reach the fifth round of the competition that season, bowing out to Super League side Wakefield Trinity after going down 58-6 against them at Craven Park.

It ultimately proved to be a memorable season in the league as well, as Clarke's side would finish the year second in National League Two, winning promotion along with champions Gateshead Thunder.