PAUL Crarey heaped praise on Barrow Raiders' pack for their part in helping the team secure their first victory away to Batley Bulldogs in 18 years.

Prior to yesterday, the Raiders' last win at Mount Pleasant was an 18-10 triumph in the old Northern Ford Premiership in 2001, but two tries from Jake Spedding, one apiece for Jono Smith and Lewis Charnock, plus two conversions and a penalty from Jamie Dallimore sealed the win.

It was a fine all-round display from the Raiders, but Crarey was particularly pleased to see the forwards stick to their task down the middle after spotting Batley tend to play laterally on video analysis.

"I thought at times the game was a bit scrappy and people were a little bit nervous early on," said Crarey.

"We gave a few penalties away for dissent and things like that, but with a four-point deficit at half time I thought we had a good chance if we stayed on the middle.

"I thought in the second half we dominated possession, kicked the ball well, kick-chased well and got the result.

"To get the win first game of the season, on the road, against a mid-table Championship side who are at their strongest is an outstanding achievement."

At times it was a brutal, with Tee Ritson, Stargroth Amean, Willie Minoga and Smith all being forced off with injuries.

But they do not look like being long-term problems and Crarey was delighted to end Barrow's winless run at Batley.

"I said to the boys before the game 'we're creating our own bit of history here because nobody wins at Batley, but you tell me as a group why we can't?'," said Crarey. "I asked the question and we came up with some massive, massive answers."