Last updated at 13:47, Tuesday, 13 July 2010

FURNESS MP John Woodcock went head-to-head with Barrow Raiders in a friendly training game.

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The MP for Barrow and Furness tackled the club’s major issues when he visited Craven Park on Friday, getting in the spirit by donning a Raiders shirt.

Mr Woodcock, who was accompanied by his wife, Mandy Telford and their 18-month-old daughter, Maisie, told the Evening Mail that the community needed to support the club.

He said: “It’s absolutely important to support the club. It is a fantastic rugby club and once again this season they are challenging. The whole of Furness should be getting behind the campaign to get them in the Super League, their performances on the pitch merit that and we should see what we can do to break down the doors and get them into the league.”

The players were warming-up ahead of their game against Batley Bulldogs on Sunday in the Championship.

What began as a dry evening turned into a soggy game of rugby, with the MP playing in early 1990s Sheffield Wednesday football shorts, his home-town team. Panting from the game, he said: “It was magic, a lot of fun but those guys are much fitter than me. I fumbled, they set up a try for me on the plate and I fumbled. I blame the dreadful wet weather.”

The Duke Street ground has a capacity of 7,000 and regularly sees a crowd of 2,000 attend home games.

Club director, Peter Durkin, said: “John’s more than welcome to come down whenever he wants.

“We are trying to build things up and get more people to come to the games. We have events for young children, so hopefully if they visit when they are young they will continue to visit in coming years. It’s not just a rugby ground, it’s a community ground for everyone.”

First published at 13:03, Tuesday, 13 July 2010
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk