Barrow Raiders Ladies have listed a 28-strong squad for the 2022 Betfred Women’s Super League season although two shirts still have to be filled.
The Raiders, alongside Leigh Miners Rangers, were promoted at the end of last season, meaning the newly-expanded competition will consist of 12 teams in 2022.
Head coach Amanda Wilkinson said: “It’s been an exciting journey so far with the players and staff. Everyone is starting to know one another a little more and I feel things are starting to come together.
“I’m really pleased with the squad and I feel we have a really good balance. We have a big challenge ahead of us this season, but myself and the coaches are more than pleased with the response to training from the players, and we are seeing a difference session-by-session.
“I believe preparation is the key to any success, so together we keep preparing and doing the hard work.
“We are looking forward to the friendly against the UK Armed Forces next week. It will be a chance for us to measure where we are. We do have a few injures, which is gutting for those players that will miss out, but I’m looking forward to seeing the ladies perform and am really happy with the progress of the squad so far.”
For their inaugural season in the top division, Amanda Wilkinson’s side, as well as Leigh Miners, will be joined in Group 2 of the competition by Bradford Bulls, Featherstone Rovers, Wakefield Trinity and Warrington Wolves.
Group 1 will consist of Huddersfield Giants, Wigan Warriors, Castleford Tigers, York City Knights, Leeds Rhinos and defending champions St Helens.
There will be promotion and relegation between the groups – one up, one down at the end of the 2022 season.
The Raiders squad for 2022 consists of a combination of new faces and existing players with the captain to be announced in due course.
Wilkinson’s side will have their first run-out of 2022 with a friendly against the UK Armed Forces this Thursday, 10th February (7pm kick-off) at the Matt Johnson Prestige Stadium.
The campaign will kick off in mid-March with the first of three rounds of group matches in the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup, followed by the quarter-finals on the weekend of April 9-10, the semi-finals two weeks later and the final at Elland Road in Leeds on Saturday May 7.
The Raiders will then host Warrington Wolves in their first league game of the season on Sunday 15 May.
2022 Squad Numbers:
- Michelle Larkin
- Sam Norman
- Natalie Saunders
- Emily Stirzaker
- Christina Tully
- Beth Pattinson
- Jodie Litherland
- Louise Clarke
- Leah Cottier
- Kerrie Ann Smith
- Claire Hutchinson
- Vanessa Temple
- Demi Fisher
- Beth Lindsay
- N/A
- Alice Rush
- Mia Dobson
- Kelly Friend
- Hannah Sherlock
- Kate Birchall
- Sarah Wilkinson
- N/A
- Amy Sunderland
- Molly Wernham
- Meagan Byers
- Aimee Sharp
- Liv Sykes
- Abbie O’Brien
