PAUL Crarey was left flabbergasted by the decision from referee Matt Rossleigh to award the penalty which allowed Sheffield Eagles to kick the winning points in Barrow Raiders' 24-22 defeat yesterday.

The Raiders looked to have done enough to earn a share of the spoils before Martin Aspinwall was penalised for being offside around the ruck on the final play of the game, with Patrick Walker kicking the goal.

But while Barrow head coach Crarey praised their opponents' play, he was left astounded by the decision and Sheffield seemingly being allowed to take the kick in front of where the infringement occurred.

"I'm just disappointed – it's a poor, poor decision at the end," said Crarey. "Martin wasn't moving in the ruck and they've marched them probably 10 or 15 metres to take the kick.

"To do that is just unbelievable and I couldn't believe it unfolding before my eyes.

"Martin is a bit distraught and I think a draw would have been a fair result. We probably should have been a bit smarter and their smart kicks were the difference between the sides, but we got ourselves back into it.

"They were very good around the rucks and at dummy-half, and we couldn't control that, but a draw would have been a fair result. But to give a technical penalty on the bell was unbelievable."

Another concern of Crarey's was the fact Ryan Duffy had to go off with a knee injury soon after making his first appearance of the game off the interchange bench and was hobbling around on crutches after the game, with the initial prognosis not good.

"It looks pretty serious for Ryan," said Crarey. "He's gone straight up the hospital with a knee problem."