Monday 13 July 2009

Northern Rail Cup Final

Travelled to the Cup Final, the clubs first since 1982. The venue, Blackpool FC's Bloomfield Road ground, the south end of which is still under construction. Strange choice by the Rugby League. The game was a sell out of nearly 9000 tickets. Here were the Barrow Raiders fans in full voice, ready for a grand day out. Did we worry that Widnes had won this trophy two times in three seasons. No, we had beaten them in the league this season.

A deafening roar from all the fans and the game started and all was going well until a ten minute spell before half time when Widnes Vikings ran in 3 tries to make it 22-8. Still optimistic we thought it could be pulled back, but mistakes and the fact that we were not fielding a full strength team told. The game ended Barrow Raiders 18 Widnes Vikings 34. Some good rugby but on the day we were not good enough.

I hope we do not have to wait another 27 years to get to a final, but that will depend on the capricious nature of fate and the spin of the Rota Fortunae or Wheel of Fortune...

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