News
What the papers say
22nd June 2009
North Western Evening Mail 19 June
Barrow Raiders joy at first cup final for 26 years
BARROW RAIDERS 16 FEATHERSTONE ROVERS 10
CRAVEN Park's own Houdinis pulled another rabbit out of the hat as they made history last night.
Barrow reached their first ever Northern Rail Cup final with a late flourish that sent the 2,775 supporters inside Craven Park and the thousands of others watching on TV wild with excitement.
As they have before this season, Barrow went into the closing stages of the game trailing on the scoreboard and staring defeat in the face.
Halifax Courier 19 June 2009
Halifax RLFC v Widnes Vikings: Top showing needed: Calland
By James Roberts
BOSS Matt Calland has insisted Halifax will need to be at their "very best" if they want to end a near 20 year absence from the big stage and book their place in the decider of the Northern Rail Cup tomorrow.
Fax host Widnes in the last four of the competition, looking for a hat trick of wins in 2009 against the pre-season title favourites.
An appearance at Bloomfield Road on July 12 - where Barrow lie in wait after beating Featherstone on Thursday night - would be Fax's first in a major final since the Divisional Premiership loss to Salford at Old Trafford in 1990-91.
"It's a big game for the club and a chance to give something back to a set of supporters who haven't had much to cheer over the last few years" said Calland.
Halifax Courier 18 June 2009
Halifax RLFC v Widnes Vikings: Bumper crowd beckons
HALIFAX officials have urged fans to turn up early for Sunday's Northern Rail Cup semi final against Widnes as expectation grows that the game will see the biggest attendance for a competitive match at the Shay since the Super League era. Last weekend's top of the table Championship clash with Barrow drew a crowd of 2,872, and with Widnes - who offered free travel to supporters - bringing 15 coaches, the stage seems set for a gate approaching 4,000.
As a result, the Shay's North Stand will be open for visiting supporters.
"It's certainly going to be busy," said Fax chief executive Graham Clay. "We'd urge people to arrive early, and use the multi-storey on Hunger Hill which will be open from 1.30pm and cost £2 per car."
North Western Evening Mail 17 June
Cup fever takes hold at Craven Park
RAIDERS forward Andy Bracek is determined to reach his first cup final by racing past Featherstone tomorrow.
READY FOR ACTION: Andy Bracek (inset) is looking forward to tomorrow's Northern Rail Cup semi-final at Craven Park, where the pitch was being prepared yesterday.
Barrow take on Rovers in front of the Sky Sports cameras at Craven Park, with the victor earning the glory of a place in the Northern Rail Cup final at Blackpool next month.
And Bracek – who has played in Super League play-offs and Challenge Cup quarter-finals for Warrington, but never in a final – is ready and raring to go.
"It's a very important game for us, it has been an important week," he said.
"We were disappointed with the result on Sunday (losing 30-24 at Halifax), but straight after the game we got together as a group and said we would put that one to bed for the time being and just focus on Thursday.
"Our performance is the most important thing to us, because if we get that right then everything else will fall into place.
"This is a massive tie. It's our ticket to the final and hopefully to have a crack at Widnes or Halifax.
"We will be buzzing if we win on Thursday night and we will carry that on throughout the season."
Yorkshire Evening Post: 19 June 2009
Cup heartbreak for brave Rovers
Featherstone were denied a place in the Northern Rail Cup final in the cruellest of fashions as they lost 16-10 to Barrow at Craven Park last night.
Daryl Powell's side were deserved leaders going into the last five minutes of their semi-final clash with Barrow, but ended up beaten in South Cumbria for the second time in a month.
Tries in each half from Kyle Briggs and Tommy Haughey had put Rovers 10-8 in front just after the hour mark in a contest they had the better of for most of its running.
But as the clock ticked down former Hull KR man Andy Ellis was sent over by the posts by Ned Catic to steal a win for Raiders and send them to Blackpool??..
