Cup showdown has extra spice for Barrow

Having lost to Oldham 32-26 in a Co-operative Championship One fixture 10 days ago, Barrow Raiders coach Darren Holt is hoping revenge is a dish best served warm when the two sides meet in Carnegie Challenge Cup fourth round tie this weekend.

Barrow return to Oldham’s Whitebank Stadium on Sunday April 15 (3.00pm) sitting atop the Championship One table, level on points with their opponents but with a coveted place in the Challenge Cup fifth round at stake, Holt believes the Cumrbians will have the upper hand this time around.

“It was a great draw for us,” said Holt. “When you get through the third round you always hope for a good draw and that’s what we’ve got. To be up against Oldham so soon after losing to them in the league just adds a little extra spice.

“It’s a very winnable fixture for us and gives us a great opportunity. If we could get through and be in the hat for the fifth round it would be massive for the club. We’d all love to get a big game at home against a big club and have a big crowd come out in support of us and that’s an opportunity the players would relish.

“A lot of the players here have never made it this far in the Cup and to get to the next stage would be huge. The players have all grown up watching the competition and they know the tradition and history of the competition. That makes things extra special.

“We can’t look past Oldham, though. We lost to them a few weeks ago and we need to focus on putting that right this weekend. That game was the worst performance since I took over at the club and if we don’t perform it will be a repeat scoreline.

“But it’s also given us a good chance to assess each other and if we can up our performance and fix our mistakes then I think we have a great chance of progressing.”

Tickets for the Carnegie Challenge Cup Fourth Round tie Oldham v Barrow Raiders to be played at Whitebank Stadium on Sunday April 15 (3.00pm) cost from just £12 adults, £10 concessions, £4 under-16s and can be purchased by calling the Oldham ticket office on 0161 628 3677

Tickets for the 2012 Carnegie Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday August 25 cost from just £21 and are now on sale. Family tickets giving access to one of British sport’s most historic fixtures to two adults and two children are also available, priced £55 or £79.

To purchase tickets please call the RFL Ticket Office on 0844 856 1113 or visit www.carnegiechallengecup.co.uk/