The best performance of the season so far!

Barrow Raiders ran up a fabulous 21-8 win against challenge cup semi-finalists Halifax with an impressive display of determination, enthusiasm, discipline and cutting-edge rugby which gives all the supporters hope that we can escape from adversity and secure championship survival.

The performance proved that the players still care and have the talent and mental toughness to overcome good sides such as Halifax.

We matched them in all departments and Fax playmaker Scott Murrell was nullified and didn’t get the chance to run the show as normal and in fact it was our half-back pairing of Jamie Dallimore and Jake Carter who dictated the pace of the game with their effective kicking game.

We also won the forwards battle with our powerful runs and aggressive defence and it was a joy to witness. It was a great atmosphere and I, along with 1400 supporters, left with a rare smile on my face.

Fax coach Simon Grix wasn’t happy and said post-match: “We just didn’t turn up and we didn’t give ourselves a chance of matching them, they’re a smaller pack, and don’t think they have as much talent in their team, but when it came to the baseline stuff we just didn’t have it."

There are ten games remaining; five at home and five away, starting tomorrow at Featherstone Rovers. Post Office Road is a difficult ground to go and win and Barrow’s recent history there isn’t great.

Rovers' young Australian coach Ryan Carr is doing well in his first season in the British game after taking over from John Duffy, who went to Leigh Centurions at the start of the season, and has instilled a defensive mindset which was the main reason for victory last week.

We have only won twice on the road since promotion to the Championship so there is no great expectation tomorrow, but if we can replicate last week’s performance, who knows?

All the pressure is on Rovers as they try to secure a top five play-off spot, therefore there is an opportunity for Barrow to play with a fair degree of freedom and confidence and try and unlock the Rovers defence.

Discipline has improved significantly in recent weeks and is key tomorrow and kicks to touch rather than open field will give us the best chance of defending in their half and ‘hunting the mistake’.

Jamie Dallimore picked up a one-match suspension for ‘punching’ against Halifax, therefore recent signing from Fax Ben White is ready to step in and make his Barrow debut and more good news on the recruitment front is the signing of Local boy Liam Paisley from Wigan who has a slight injury and therefore makes his debut on Wednesday against Leigh in the 1895 Cup.

So, congratulations to the club for signing two very good players who hopefully will enhance the spirits and help build on last week’s fantastic victory and catch the two teams on our survival radar, either Swinton or Dewsbury . That will not be easy as, unbelievably, Swinton won at Toulouse last week and both teams have games against Rochdale Hornets coming up where two points is virtually guaranteed based on the current form of Hornets who suffered another heavy defeat against York (60-0) last week.

Just keep winning and survival will be secured !