We followed up the great victory at Doncaster with a professional performance against Coventry Bears last Sunday.

It is so easy to go in to that type of fixture, where a win is expected, without the required focus but I thought the team were excellent, especially in the first half.

Some of the shape and plays we put on during that devastating opening were a joy to watch. Players may have seemed to be strolling over the line at times but it was a direct result of the build-up play.

The crowd above 1,200 was pleasing and something we can build on.

I think everyone is aware of the marketing we have done to try to build the crowds and I'm sure without that we would have been sub-one thousand. I've said before the board are determined to grow our club.

We had two schools of the week joining us and they were flag bearers before the game before we got them on the pitch for a game at half-time and they got to meet the players for pictures and autographs afterwards.

We have a fantastic bunch of players and they were a credit to the club the way they made a fuss of those youngsters.

We also had two curtain raisers. It was great to see Hindpool and Dalton under-8s do battle and I'm sure our offer of free entry went down well with the parents. There were some stars on show that no doubt will be wearing the Barrow colours in a decade or two.

The second curtain raiser featured a trial exhibition game for Barrow Ladies and this has really got the club excited.

They are a fantastic bunch of girls and there is an open offer from Barrow Raiders to become more aligned.

We have to respect that Barrow Island gave them a base to begin their existence but I can only see this team getting better and better and making a serious challenge for promotion to Women's Super League with our own Raiders Girls boosting the squad.

We would love a Super League campaign to be played with Craven Park their base.

After the game, we got to see how much camaraderie they have and they got the Raiders Bar bouncing, again an absolute credit to rugby league.

Last week's game at Doncaster was streamed in to the Raiders Bar and from all reports the place was again bouncing, especially when Shane Toal went the length of the field to make sure of the win.

Whenever we get permission from the opposition, we intend to try to get the bar full and hope you can join us there if you can't make the game.

The disjointed fixture list means we now have a week off before back to back away fixtures at North Wales and Keighley and then another week off before we welcome Workington.

Without thinking too far ahead it would be great if we were unbeaten for the derby and welcomed a massive crowd to cheer us to the top of the league.