Clark has led Barrow to the semi-finals of the Northern Rail Cup

Barrow coach Dave Clark believes his squad can benefit from Thursday's Northern Rail Cup semi-final against Featherstone, whatever the outcome.

Raiders are battling for the league title as well as their cup bid and Clark is confident his players will be spurred on by the big occasion.

"It's a massive opportunity for the club to be in a semi-final," he told BBC Radio Cumbria.

"The environment of the night will take the aches and pains away."

With Raiders battling at the top of the Championship, the bookmakers have Barrow favourites at 1-3 on to defeat Rovers in their semi-final.

But Clark is refusing to think about a place in the final and remains focused on Thursday's game.

"I don't think we look at favourites really, we achieve each week by working hard and playing the type of football that we like to play and competing in games," he said.

"If people like to call us favourites then we don't focus on that, people can put us in that position if they want but we've got one goal and that goal is to play the best we can and if we do that results will come our way.

"We took four buses at the weekend to Halifax and it means a lot to the whole area when Barrow rugby league is doing well and for us to get to Blackpool (the final venue) would be fantastic for the whole town."

Winning the Northern Rail Cup would be a big plus for the club in their hopes of obtaining a Super League place when the franchises are decided in 2012.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version