Wandering pete

Batley currently sit in 12 th place with 8 points from 3 wins /2 draws/9 defeats.After a promising start with a draw at Oldham and a win over Widnes at Mt.Pleasant the next 11 games saw just one win (at London) and a home draw with the Raiders.A winless sequence of 8 games led to a change of coach and was ended by a home victory over the Eagles last time out bringing an instant return for the evergreen John Kear...surely the RL equivalent of Neil Warnock.So its been a (Bull)dogs breakfast of a season so far but the Raiders should beware the Kear factor with no doubt more injuries biting into their squad.

Rovers currently in 8th spot with 7 wins/7 defeats.After only 1 win in their first six their form has picked up with 6 wins from the next 8...only losing to TO(h) and at York.They look to be building well into the battle for the top 6..should be a cracker.

The Bulls are currently 2nd on the ladder with 10 wins/ 3 defeats so far.After a sticky start ...2 defeats in first 4(TO away/ Raiders at home) they have lost only one from the next 9 ( York at home).Only 1 loss away from Odsal to date.Their next 2 games..at Barrow then Hunslet at home..so not surprising to see Brian Noble at the South Leeds stadium on Sunday..wonder what Nobby made of that?

After the Eagles come the Hawks...at the halfway point of the season the Hawks are rooted at the foot of the table with 2 wins to date.Both wins away from home..at Batley and Sheffield...by 4 point margins so no home victory...yet.They will fancy their chance over an out of sorts Raiders with 3 defeats and a draw in their last 4 games. Would take a repeat of that epic 1984 match at Elland Rd...40-41 ..with a very late Barrow recovery to snatch the points.

The Eagles currently in 10th spot with 3 wins from 11 so far..Batley(h) and Fev/ London (a).Poor season by their usual standards and without the now retired Anthony Thackeray..often Barrow's nemesis.The raiders without a win in 3 need some fresh legs and a better "rub of the green"..maybe official's who can spot knock- ons,forward passes, and dropouts not going the distance.Perhaps perfectly good tries could stand and not be disallowed...probably too much to ask

Fev currently 9th in table with 4 wins from 10..York/Dons/Batley at home and Widnes(a).Strange set of results but with a comprehensive win at Oldham in the 1895 Cup clearly capable of better things.Could the imminent prospect of their Wembley final v York on the 7th June be a distraction ..who knows? The long trip last weekend and a bruising battle in Toulouse may affect the Raiders..possibly some fresh legs returning?

In the match report from the local paper..La Depeche..the verdict was that.."at the final whistle the score was flattering for TO".Sylvain Houles said that.."Barrow are fourth in the league and it's not by chance..its a team that always causes us problems.It's a team that knows how to outwit the opponents" On a different day if disallowed tries were given and a TO dropout which didn't reach the line was spotted by the ref it could have been a different outcome.

..harsh..there is a good reason...

TO are going well ..sat at the top of the table with 7 wins from 9..losing at home to Widnes(14-18) and at Donny(6-10) and with impressive victories against Fax,Bradford and Oldham.Sounds like a strong Raiders squad will make the trip..with maybe a surprise?Forecast is dry,sunny 20°..let's hope its a cracker!

Excellent team performance..only looked like one result for 30 minutes up the slope at 14-0 ..then the injuries kicked in.Not sure when the 18 th man is allowed to be used but ..in the interests of player welfare .. when 4 serious injuries have occurred and no further subs are available could the 18 th man not be used..maybe at the ref's discretion?

Both excellent..Ryan superb in the win at Widnes with an 80 min standout display

Bulldogs v Road Dogs Batley have had a mixed start to their campaign with 2 wins(Widnes(h) and London(a))..a creditable draw at Oldham but home defeats to Hunslet/York with away losses at Fax and Eagles.Their coach says that the Raiders are "overachieving"..might be worth sticking that up on the changing room wall...

The Broncos have started with 2 wins/3 defeats having beaten Hunslet and Fev at home with losses to Batley(H), Oldham and Bradford(both A).Let's hope the Raiders can maintain the fabulous form shown at Widnes.Friday's merry whistle-blower is Tara Jones..maybe the first lady ref. for a Raiders match?

Just tuning in to youtube broadcast..couldn't make the trip today..rail replacement buses from Preston...11 hours of travel.

For anybody not able to make the inconvenient journey to Bradford tonight or can't make it to the marqee for the live stream there is the option of Bradford Bulls TV. Need to register through Bulls website and pay £10 to get the match live.

Fairly sure that Jamie Pye is in the 21

Couldn't make the Hunslet game due to a bout of manflu probably caused by enduring the Baltic wastes of Oldham last week.As a season ticket holder was delighted to find the YouTube coverage..is there a way to charge.. maybe £10..but make it free for Season ticket holders?

Newcastle already knocked out by Cru so it's Goole(a) on the 2nd March.

After last night's amazing game at Wigan perhaps the last time such a scoreline occurred was the Hull KR v Barrow game 16.10.94..although not in golden point extratime..thanks to a Bluey Kavanagh dg.Some illustrious names in the Barrow team on the day included Cresta, Trainor, Shaw,Atkinson,Rhodes and Morrow.

Just seen a photo of Max Clarke at Carcassonne Airport with a welcoming committee from A.S.Carcassonne Xiii..Good luck ...Allez les Canaries

Following a successful trial Ellis has been awarded a squad number(21) for the TO 2025 season..Bon Chance M.Gillam

Interesting draw..no disrespect to Newcastle but surely it will be either a first ever trip to Goole or another visit to Colwyn Bay. The Vikings have a couple of ex Raiders in Magic Mike n Andy Ellis whilst the Cru have the trio of Spedding,Evans and of course ..Dally..coached by Carl Forster.

Dally signs for the Cru..after a lengthy spell away from rugby Jamie Dallimore joins Carl Forsters North Wales Crusaders along with Jake Spedding.Former Raiders target Jordy Gibson is another Cru signing although not sure if Ben Evans and Jono Smith are still involved.

Tomorrow's the day...a quick check on all the other Championship clubs pages shows that only Oldham fans are showing any interest..their first 2 home games and their trip to TO are highlighted.Usually by now we know the first home fixture..maybe there's an embargo?

2009 Championship Man of Steel...53 tries in 94 appearances for Raiders..probably best form of his career.Played in 2009 Northern Rail Final v Widnes.Broadbent Larkin Bauer Harrison Nixon Finch Holt McDermott Ellis Bracek Ostler Noone Luisi...Young Butler Mossop Kaighan..some names to bring back memories...