Barrow Raiders Ladies faced a tough task on Saturday as they took on reigning champions St Helens in their Group A match in the Betfred Challenge Cup tie.

Raiders went down 68-0 to St Helens, who secured a historic treble in 2021 by winning the Challenge Cup, League Leaders' trophy and Betfred Super League title, and have a squad boasting 12 international players.

The game marked Raiders Ladies Head Coach Amanda Wilkinson's first competitive match in charge, as they gear up for their league campaign, and despite the unflattering scoreline, she spoke of her pride in the team's efforts after the game:

"I couldn't wait to get on the pitch and just pull the girls together and let them know how proud I was today.

"We knew we had a task on our hands facing a team like St Helens.

"As a coach, I couldn't be prouder - in the league we wont come up against anything as fit and as fast as that, so for us, it can only be a learning curve.

"Going in at half time 24-0, we felt pretty good.

"We'll be going into the league feeling pretty good about ourselves, I'll be honest.

"We saw two groups of athletes out there at different levels, but two teams full of passionate girls who want to work for each other.

"To play with such passion and flair and for those young people to watch and to look up to, its brilliant for the town and for the ladies game."