A LAST-minute penalty conceded on the last tackle of the last set cost us a point last Sunday at the windswept Keepmoat athletics ground away to Doncaster, in a game Barrow were leading 24-12 with 20 minutes left.

It was very frustrating for all concerned and a 24-24 draw felt like a defeat, with Cumbrian rivals Whitehaven leapfrogging us to go second in the table after their comprehensive victory over University of Gloucestershire All Golds.

The last game of the first phase is away to Whitehaven in a month’s time and that game could well decide who finishes second prior to the start of the Super Eights, and who gains a small advantage in the fixtures.

It was Doncaster’s caretaker coach Peter Green’s last game in charge and he was very upbeat with the Dons' performance, saying: “I think we gave them too much respect early on with the strong wind at their backs and they opened up an early 10-0 lead, but then we started to settle into the game.

“I don’t think there was much between the two teams after that and had we been a bit more clinical with our finishing then I think we’d have beaten them.”

Watching in the stands was ex-Hull FC assistant coach Richard Horne, who was confirmed as Doncaster's new coach on a two-year contract after the match.

It is quite a coup for the Yorkshire club, who are obviously going for promotion and ambitious chief executive Carl Hall also stated that the appointment will further enhance the relationship between themselves and Hull in the formal dual-registration agreement they have.

So the pressure is growing on Barrow from all quarters and we will have to get back to our early season performances as soon as possible so as we hit the last phase in our best form just like we did last season.

I still think that indiscipline is our biggest problem and giving away a penalty on the last play of the game tends to prove that point.

Tonight, North Wales Crusaders are the visitors. They come to Craven Park on the back of a 25-24 home defeat by Workington Town, which was a bit of a surprise considering how well they played against Barrow in the League One Cup final at Bloomfield Road just three weeks ago.

That final could have gone either way and Crusaders head coach Mike Grady insisted revenge is not something he is thinking about, saying: “We’ll take one thing from the final which is that we managed to push Barrow close and in truth should have won the game.

“I’m obviously frustrated with last weekend’s result. We had a perfectly good try ruled out, which I have spoken to the RFL about, and to be 18-0 up with just 15 minutes gone and then go onto lose the game in the way we did was annoying for all the lads.”

Free-scoring Dale Bloomfield is still out, but there are four regulars returning tonight including Callum Mulkeen, who scored against us in the final. Barrow can’t afford to be complacent and it would be good to show the Welshmen the team we can be after the close shave at Blackpool.

Whitehaven travel to York City Knights tomorrow and anything could happen there, and I am looking forward to commentary duty on Sunday as I travel to Workington to witness first-hand the pace and power of League One leaders Toronto who should win comfortably.

See you tonight!