Barrow trip will be no picnic

Mar 13 2008 Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

THE pressure may be off his Widnes Vikings team, who are already through to the last 16 of the Northern Rail Cup but head coach Steve McCormack wants to end the Group Six qualifying campaign with a bang.

Sunday takes Vikings to Barrow Raiders who they beat handsomely in the home encounter but McCormack is expecting a much tougher time in Cumbria.

He said: “Although we're through, we still want to finish with a win and maintain our good form from the previous three weeks.

“Barrow still have a chance of going through as a best third-placed team so we're not going up there for a day out.

“We'll need to be on the top of our game because they'll throw everything at us.”

McCormack hopes to welcome back Tim Hartley and Paul Noone after both players recovered from back injuries but Mark Smith misses out through suspension.

Raiders' coach Dave Clark has a full-strength squad to pick from as he attempts to steer Barrow into the knockout stages.

Clark said: “We've still got an opportunity of going through and that's our goal really. If we can get some sort of result it will be great for the club.

“We'll have a full-strength side out at the weekend and be competing as best we can."

The draw for the last 16 of the Northern Rail Cup will take place at 5.30pm on Sunday.