Barrow coach McCormack rues Northern Rail Cup exit

McCormack was disappointed to lose at his former club Widnes

Barrow coach Steve McCormack has revealed his disappointment after the club were dumped out of the Northern Rail Cup by Widnes on Thursday.

Raiders were beaten 26-12 by Paul Cullen's Vikings in a re-run of last year's final, and McCormack admitted his side were second best on the night.

"We got what we deserved," McCormack told BBC Radio Cumbria.

"We were beaten by a better side and I was very disappointed that we have gone out of this competition."

One mitigating circumstance for McCormack is that his Grand Final holders came into the game on the back of a sapping 32-12 defeat by Super League side St Helens in the Challenge Cup on Saturday.

However the former Widnes coach was reluctant to make excuses for his side's efforts.

"It may have taken a bit out of us, but this is the quarter-finals of the cup and you've got to get your energy levels and your preparation right," McCormack added.

"From that performance we've not, and I've got to take responsibility.

"In this game there's no hiding place, we can all take the plaudits when we're winning, or go to St Helens and put a good performance in, but we've got to take the criticism when we come up with a performance like that."

Raiders are now out of both the Challenge and Northern Rail Cups, and are currently fourth in the Championship, albeit with three games in hand on leaders Featherstone.