IF yesterday’s friendly against Oldham gave members of the Barrow Raiders squad a chance to stake a claim for a starting spot when the 2017 Kingstone Press League One season gets under way, then Shane Toal will have done much to push himself to the forefront of Paul Crarey’s plans.

Amid the gloom and persistent rain at Craven Park, the 21-year-old winger shone by showing a devastating display of finishing with four of the home side’s five tries in the 22-22 draw against the Raiders’ Championship opponents.

Injury and the form of on-loan wide man Eze Harper meant Ulverstonian Toal was limited to just eight outings for Barrow in 2016. He will, of course, face competition for that spot from off-season signing Brett Carter this time around, but it was nonetheless a marker very much laid down.

A further sign of encouragement came in the way Toal linked up with another of the new boys, Declan Hulme, as the ex-Workington Town centre was on hand to assist him twice in finishing off some well-worked moves by the back line.

Toal will deservedly get plenty of plaudits for his performance, but there were positive signs from the rest of the Barrow team as well – particularly given how several of their senior players were unavailable.

Oliver Wilkes, Martin Aspinwall, Nathan Mossop and Toal’s brother Dan were on the sidelines recovering from injury, Ryan Fieldhouse was taken ill on the morning of the game and the aforementioned Carter was missing due to his wife going into labour.

Added to that was Karl Ashall being forced off with a suspected fractured wrist just six minutes in, although that allowed extended minutes for fellow hookers Dan Abram and Brad Marwood, with both particularly lively around the ruck.

Tom Loxam, the former Royal Marine now trying to earn a professional contract, did not look out of place either on his first start against professional opposition – playing in the centre – while Millom prop Ethan Kelly showed plenty of glimpses of his talent off the interchange bench too.

And while the fact Oldham snatched a draw via a contentious converted try in the dying seconds from Dave Hewitt, whose lurking offside at a scrum went unnoticed by referee Jamie Barr, left a slightly sour taste for some in attendance, it did not detract from the overall showing.

The opening quarter of an hour proved something of an arm-wrestle, but the deadlock was broken by Barrow on 16 minutes when promising full-back Luke Cresswell – who excelled on the defensive side particularly in the absence of Fieldhouse – sent Toal over out wide for an unconverted try.

Indeed, only one of the five tries Barrow did score would be converted and on another day that might have proven concerning. However, conditions were not exactly favourable for goal-kickers Lewis Charnock and Ryan Johnston, who were faced with difficult attempts out wide for all five scores as it was.

Nevertheless, Toal managed to get over again on 23 minutes, this time barging his way through the defence to dot down after being set up by Hulme. Then at the other end, amateur Kelly produced a stunning interception to snuff out an Oldham attack – and no doubt help settle himself down after a nervy first few minutes on the field, which included carelessly giving away a penalty for offside.

Penalties were mounting against the home side though and that allowed Oldham good field position from which they were able to hit back inside the final five minutes of the half.

First, Scott Leatherbarrow jinked through the defence for a try under the posts he then converted, followed by on-loan Castleford Tigers winger Jamel Chisholm plucking a kick from Hewitt out of the air and getting it down out wide to put the Roughyeds 10-8 up at half time.

Toal completed his hat-trick to put Barrow back in front on 54 minutes, finishing off a fine move involving all of the backs. This was followed by Oldham regaining the lead six minutes later however, with Kenny Hughes going over from close range for a converted try.

Toal’s fourth of the match levelled the game again and when Hulme went from provider to scorer four minutes from time, with Charnock this time landing the conversion from out wide, it looked as if Barrow were well on their way to victory.

Hewitt’s score and the conversion from Leatherbarrow ensured Oldham would deny them though. Nevertheless, it was an encouraging start to the Raiders’ run of friendlies and will undoubtedly leave head coach Crarey with some tough choices for the make-up of his squad when Whitehaven visit this Sunday.

Barrow Raiders: Luke Cresswell; Chris Fleming, Declan Hulme, Tom Loxam, Shane Toal; Jamie Dallimore, Lewis Charnock; Joe Bullock, Karl Ashall, Tom Walker, Jarrad Stack, Danny Morrow, Bradd Crellin. Interchange: Dan Abram, Brad Brennan, Andy Dawson, James Duerden, Ryan Johnston, Andy Litherland, Matty Holmes, Ethan Kelly, Matty While, Brad Marwood.

Oldham: Scott Turner; Adam Clay, George Tyson, Gene Ormsby, Harry Warburton; Scott Leatherbarrow, Dave Hewitt; Daniel Smith, Sam Gee, Adam Neal, Jack Spencer, Mike Wood, Ben Davis. Interchange: Jamel Chisholm, Tyler Dickinson, Steven Neld, Phil Joy, Kenny Hughes.