DISAPPOINTMENT was probably the strongest emotion following the trip to North Wales.

We under-performed and have to say we were second best.

It was more disappointing than the Keighley defeat when on that occasion we had a stack of illness and injuries, some of which occurred even before kick-off.

This time we had a strong line-up with us leaving some very talented and available players out of the team. It is hard to put a finger on the reasons, but we seemed flat with our tempo and enthusiasm low.

Unfortunately, we cannot rewind the clock and we can now only look forwards. Personally, I have every faith in the quality of the squad and the coaching staff, and we must now focus and make no excuses for the last few weeks of the season.

Workington are now in pole position, and they must be strong favourites to secure the automatic promotion position. It looks increasingly unlikely that we will get the opportunity for a title decider at Derwent Park. I received a call from the RFL on Friday about my view on extending the season by a week and changing the play-off format.

My reply was that with Workington having to fit in three games then a one-week extension where they would play Coventry wouldn’t really achieve much and all the clubs knew the potential disruption of Covid at the start of the season and with it a league table based on points percentage.

I also feel that the best play-off format is the five-team version that rewards the teams more the higher they finished in the league campaign. If we need to enter the play-offs, then so be it.

Nothing is certain in sport and that’s why the drama of it is so addictive. The disappointments are often what makes a supporter as much as the successes.

North Wales Crusaders 23-10 Barrow Raiders

That’s not to say we are looking for disappointments, but we can only control what is in front of us by working hard in preparation. Our supporters deserve success for the way they have come out in numbers throughout the season, but they too must continue to play their part with encouragement from the side-lines.

Now is not the time to panic and lose faith in achieving our objectives.

Off the pitch we still have our premises licence review in early September following some complaints from neighbours after some of our bigger events. Whilst we are committed to reduce noise and nuisance the council needs to understand that they represent all the people of Barrow and so little has been organised for the town in the past.

The Euro football gave the public something they have never had before and they came out in droves, free films for the family went down a treat until we were stopped in our tracks by licencing and our planned music festivals, top-ranking DJs and Oktoberfest have seen the public clamouring for tickets.

I look in envy at Ulverston with their Dickensian Festival and their Laurel and Hardy events and I can see the Oktoberfest really taking off and being a genuine attraction for the town.

We have already sold over 2000 tickets, and it is an opportunity to dress up, enjoy something different and hopefully celebrate a sense of normality after the disruption of the last 18 months. Let’s hope the councillors and the licencing department share our vision for a better Barrow.