BARROW boss Paul Crarey stoked up the flames ahead of York City Knights' instant return match against the Raiders by accusing Mick Cook's men of "throwing themselves on the floor" to win penalties in Sunday's Northern Rail Cup tie.

The two teams meet at Craven Park in Co-op National League Two this Sunday just seven days after Barrow won 18-16 at Huntington Stadium to reach the last eight of the Northern Rail Cup.

They were hanging on at the end of that match after the Knights dominated the second half, but Crarey (pictured) reckoned much of that ascendancy was based on a penalty count which was heavily in York's favour and saw Raiders second-row Michael Smith sin-binned for persistent fouling.

Crarey said: "I thought in the second half the penalty count against us was 9-4. They were throwing themselves on the floor to get penalties. Michael Smith got sent off when one of their players threw himself on the floor."

Ironically, referee Robert Hicks came in for criticism from Knights fans throughout the game, not least in the first half in which he repeatedly penalised the Knights on the back of which the Raiders built a 16-4 lead.

At one point he gave a scrum to Barrow when York hooker Jamaine Wray put the ball down when concussed in a dubious tackle close to the visitors' line, followed immediately by a controversial penalty at the other end, the two points from which ultimately proved crucial.

In the second half, he also ruled out a potentially match-winning try by George Rayner.

Crarey went on to criticise Hicks for not being strict enough with the ten-metre offside rule, and for awarding "niggly" penalties.

"We want teams to play football," he said.

"We're a footballing team and if you've got a short ten and give niggly penalties and if they're throwing themselves to the floor we're not a dirty team by any means, but we got penalised off the park in the second half.

"It was not a physical game. It was a stop-start game when two sides want to play football and put a spectacle on."

Knights boss Mick Cook refrained from criticising Oldham official Hicks, although The Press believes he has spoken to the Rugby Football League's referees' assessor, Ray Tennant, about the quality of refereeing in general so far this season.

When asked if he had a comment to make about Hicks' performance in the middle, Cook said: "What for? He was great wasn't he?"

The referee for the Knights' game at Barrow on Sunday will be Peter Taberner of Wigan.