PAUL Crarey made no excuses after Barrow Raiders suffered a 32-6 defeat away to Whitehaven in yesterday's Kingstone Press League One derby clash at the Recreation Ground.

The Raiders had only trailed 12-6 at the break following a tense first 40 minutes, but that converted try from Tom Walker would prove to be only scant consolation as they found themselves wanting after the break.

Head coach Crarey was frustrated by his side's failure to make the most of their opportunities and uncharacteristic lapses in defence which he believed were key to their undoing, while he was also annoyed to see Ollie Wilkes, Danny Morrow and Jamie Dallimore sin-binned as well.

“I just thought we were poor across the board and probably out-enthused a little bit,” said Crarey. “We probably got drawn into a battle in the second half that we didn't need to because it was a six-point ball-game at half time.

“I thought we hung in the game even though we weren't great in the first half. They had big completion rates and we were around 50 per cent, then in the second half we just got drawn in with too many penalties.

“We had three clear-cut chances to score tries and we bombed them – it would be easier to score than not, and it was just that sort of afternoon.

“Then frustrations set in during the last 10 minutes and I just wanted the whistle because it started to boil over and the occasion got to some of the lads.”

Barrow will return to training on Tuesday evening, but then have a week off before the Super Eights get under way on the weekend of July 29 and 30.

The defeat means they will face a return to Whitehaven at some point during the second half of the season as a result of finishing third after the first phase and Crarey is looking for his Raiders squad to take on board the lessons from this defeat.

“I know what to expect in a derby, but for some of these it was the first one they have played in and it was a massive learning curve for them,” said Crarey.

“Composure is everything and the smartest team will win. They tried to slow us down, which they did, the game was pretty slow and it was just a slugfest, really, which never really got going.

“But they came up with some good play and some smart kicks at the back end of plays, and we just weren't good enough. In what was a big game, we came up short.”