BARROW Raiders coach Paul Crarey couldn’t hide his delight after watching his side shut out Coventry Bears at the Butts Park Arena, writes LEO CLARKE.

A rampant Raiders ran in seven tries and it could have been greater had their execution been more clinical in the Midlands yesterday.

But the League One victory – their second on the road this season – saw them remain unbeaten in four and remain second in the table.

Liam Harrison led the try-fest going over in the fifth minute and other tries followed from Chris Fleming, who was later to go off injured, Andy Litherland, James Duerden, Lee Haney and Joe Bullock. Josh Ward kickedfour conversions for what in the end was a very one-sided 38-0 win.

Crarey said: “I thought it was a great performance all round. We had to work hard for the win. We watched them on the tape against Gloucester when they came from behind and I don’t think anybody has nilled them this year.”

The Raiders boss felt Barrow let themselves down against Newcastle Thunder in the 24-24 draw at Craven Park in their last league game, but there were mitigating circumstances with a number of players delayed in arriving because on an incident on the motorway.

But Barrow had prepared hard for the Bears clash, with Crarey adding: “We wanted to put a big performance in, we did that.”

Crarey felt his side were really clinical in the first half which saw them go over the whitewash four times, adding: “In the second half we wanted much of the same, but we got a little bit of white line fever, lost our shape and structure and started playing randomly and we got into a grind. But we found our feet again back towards the end of the half and scored some good tries when we went back to what we do best.

“But the big fat zero is what we really wanted. We lost our status when we played Newcastle defensively and offensively and we wanted to get it back.

“We wanted people to have a look at what we are doing and take notice of us, and today I think we did that by winning 38-0.”

Both Lee Haney and Chris Fleming suffered injures, with the latter having to be helped off the field soon after scoring his try.

Haney popped a shoulder in a tackle but was able to continue, however Fleming ripped his knee ligaments.

“It looks pretty bad, he’s on crutches,” said Crarey of Fleming. “It was a nothing challenge, it was a kick return and he just slipped and they followed through on the tackle and he twisted his knee. He is going to get a private scan this week.

“He’s gutted because he has found his place in the team, worked hard and has done really well for us. Probably 15 to 20 metres out he is a very good finisher. If he is gone for a few weeks he will be a big loss to us.”