BARROW Raiders leapfrogged Toronto at the top of the table with one of the biggest wins in League One history last weekend, as they trounced strugglers Hemel Stags 82-0.

That despite the Canadians’ win at our League One Cup opponents tomorrow, Keighley Cougars.

Ryan Fieldhouse and Brad Marwood both scored hat-tricks for Barrow, and it was great to see Brett Carter back scoring a wonderful try, before receiving a nasty facial injury which puts him out for six weeks.

The worrying aspect of this victory was that Barrow weren’t at full throttle, though Hemel played with a lot of enthusiasm and didn’t deserve to be defeated by such a large margin.

I have said it many times, but the new fledgling southern clubs need to join a development league to prove their capability to compete at semi-professional level, both on and off the pitch.

Beating Hemel Stags 82-0 in front of 739 die-hard supporters isn’t doing anyone any favours, and it’s a bit of a joke. Tomorrow, League One Cup defending champions Keighley make their third trip to Barrow in two months.

They won the cup last year after a last-minute 22-18 victory over York City Knights at the Blackpool Bash. Their two most recent trips to Craven Park have resulted in defeat, with a 48-14 pre-season friendly setback and a 20-0 loss in the fourth round of the Challenge Cup a fortnight ago.

However, Cougars coach Craig Lingard was given some encouragement they could avoid a third straight defeat judging by the first-half display at home to Toronto.

The Wolfpack had to be on their mettle in the second half, as they had to come from behind.

A try in the first minute of the second half put Keighley 15-8 up, but the Wolfpack took a grip from there on in, with former Leigh Centurions winger Jonny Pownall completing a hat-trick. The Canadian side ran out 48-21 winners.

The performance from the Cougars lifted everyone’s spirits, with local media headlines reading “Keighley Cougars’ first-half show against Toronto Wolfpack gives coach Craig Lingard hope of finally winning at Barrow Raiders”. So, although we have been relatively easy victors over Keighley in those two encounters, they appear to fancy their chances.

I’m sure there will be no complacency from Raiders, who are odds-on favourites to lift this trophy with Toronto not competing. Hopefully we will be in the draw for the semi-finals on Monday at 12.30pm.

In the other quarter-finals, University of Gloucestershire All Golds travel to Derwent Park for the second time in a week to play Workington.

Myself and Dave Nixon were on commentary duty last Sunday, and we witnessed a very entertaining game, with Town running out 54-22 winners.

Carl Forber had a fabulous game, and Barrow will have to watch him next week when Town come to Craven Park.

Oxford play London Skolars, and Newcastle Thunder are at home to North Wales Crusaders

The semi-finals will be played on April 29/30, so – if games go true to form – we would be in the draw with Town, Newcastle and London Skolars to get to the final at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool, in the Summer Bash on May 27. We will never have a better chance of reaching a cup final, so let’s continue to play with confidence and discipline and we should be victorious.

Tomorrow is an ideal opportunity for the Furness community to come and support this fabulous unbeaten team. See you there.