LONG-SERVING Barrow and District Amateur Rugby League secretary Terry Barker cannot recall a worse situation in the once-vibrant competition.
The Barrow League, which has been sponsored by Furness Floor & Tiling for several years, has in recent times generally operated on Wednesday evenings in an effort to aid player availability, given that several local clubs’ first teams operate in either the National Conference League or North West Men’s League.
Barker reflected of the campaign: “I was looking forward to the start of this season, the league having gone to Wednesday night after the 90 percent completion rate last year.
“But March was a bad month for some of our senior teams. Barrow Island, for example, sustained ten long-term injuries in the first few weeks.
“Shift work and personnel working away didn’t help and another downfall now is social media. Clubs use Facebook and other versions while, back in the day, if on a Friday you had lost five players, you got on the phone and sorted it.
“Most of our clubs do not have large numbers player-wise so their ‘A’ teams suffer. Dalton were in that position last year but have turned it round this season with a good youth policy.
“On the other side of the coin, Millom have come out worse than any of the other teams in terms of not fulfilling fixtures and, this season, match-completion is around 72 percent.”