Barrow Raiders head coach Paul Crarey praised the home fans for cheering the team on for the final home game of the season.

Barrow completed a league double over the Bulldogs with a 24-16 win thanks to tries from Deon Cross, Stargroth Amean, Wartovo Puara and Alec Susino.

Crarey said after the final whistle: “I want to thank the fans for turning up today - I never expected 1,214 to turn up, they were fantastic. They were unbelievable today. They got behind us, they were immense.

“We played some good stuff today - it wasn’t a great game, bit scrappy at times, and although we go down, we can rebuild for next season in League One.

“I will be speaking to (chairman) Steve Neale shortly to see what’s in the budget for next year. There will be changes, some players go, some players come in.

“I know by talking to agents that we will lose players, but one piece of good news is that Jamie Dallimore is staying.

“Jamie has been a bit off this year through one thing and another. Things have affected his game but he was back to his best today. He is 100 per cent behind us and that’s good news.

“Players will come in. I have a few irons in the fire, but like I said it’s all about the budget. Some players have pledged to stay so we will soon have the backbone of the squad.

“We rewarded our young kids today. The likes of Jake Carter and Adam Ford, along with Ryan Johnston, are the future.

“I thought one or two decisions went against us and I wasn’t happy with them but we won.

“The Championship is a tough league, very physical, and you have to play hard for the full 80 minutes. It’s a lot different in League One.”