Barrow Raiders head coach Paul Crarey feels his team could have made more of their first-half performance as they let an early lead slip during their 24-8 defeat at home to Leigh Centurions yesterday.

The Raiders were 4-0 ahead for the majority of the first period after a well-worked try from Deon Cross and there were other chances for them to extend their advantage, while at the other end they were defending ferociously.

It looked as though it would be a repeat of the titanic 1895 Cup quarter final between the two teams last month, which went right to the wire before Martyn Ridyard’s late drop goal snatched it for Leigh.

Ridyard was amongst the Centurions’ try scorers this time, but the result ended up being more clear-cut this time, as the visitors showed a clinical side that Barrow couldn’t manage.

Crarey said: “I thought we were very good in the first half. They scored with three minutes to go before the bell for half-time, against the run of play.

“I thought we should have had a couple more tries and we talked about composure and discipline in the second half and I told them that I thought they were the better side.

“Then we started the second half with a try after a penalty, which put them on the front foot and I don’t think we touched the ball for about six sets after that.

“They got a couple more tries and then it was a battle when they hit the front, but I thought we stuck to our task.

“Again, little things let us down and if you’re not clinical at this level - although how Tee Ritson’s try was ruled out I’ll never know. It was a great try on that left edge.

“There were opportunities that we didn’t take that I felt we should have today.”