SCOTLAND coach Steve McCormack was pleased to see his new charges come through their Ladbrokes Four Nations warm-up game at Barrow on Friday.

But the former Barrow Raiders boss warned them they have to make considerable improvements this week before facing the mighty Australia on Friday. In a testimonial for Barrow stalwart Liam Harrison, Scotland won 48-16 after a mid-game wobble, with a host of new names getting run-outs.

“We were a bit scratchy but we will be a lot better for having played that game,” said McCormack.

“It was a must that we had some sort of contact game. We got out of it exactly what we thought we would. We blew the cobwebs off. We got bashed a bit which is what you expect. They’re very proud people the Cumbrians and I knew exactly what we would get.”

McCormack left out half a dozen of his major stars who should be in contention to face Australia.

Skipper Danny Brough, and North Queensland Cowboys duo Lachlan Coote and Kane Linnett were rested, while new St Helens signing Luke Douglas only landed in Glasgow from Sydney a few hours earlier and Euan Aitken of St George-Illawarra Dragons had a tight hamstring.

It meant the rest of his 24-man squad all got game time, although first choice hooker Laim Hood of Leigh only lasted ten minutes before his hamstring flared up. Huddersfield’s Ryan Brierley was among the debutants and try-scorers.

“We had a lot of experience sat up in the stand,” explained McCormack. “It’s a brand new team – there were eight new caps there – and we were a young side. It was an opportunity for us. When we stuck to our structures we played really well.

“They took on board quite a few things we’ve done in training but it also highlighted a lot of things we need to work on in training this week.”

Man of the Match for many of the Scotland management team, including McCormack, was Workington youngster Callum Phillips, who came on for Hood, scored a try, set up two others and left after receiving lengthy treatment to a head knock after getting clattered collecting a high ball two minutes from time. While some Scotland players looked to be lacking energy, Phillips buzzed from start to finish.

Said McCormack: “Callum Phillips was really good, outstanding. He played at nine, six and seven. He got a knock to the head but he’s fine now. Lads like Billy McConnachie and Sheldon Powe-Hobbs did well too: they’ve never put a Scotland jersey on before and never played in this kind of environment.

“This is a proper rugby league ground: the history, the crowd getting behind the Cumbrian team, a tight pitch, and it getting a bit chilly. We had a top Super League ref, too (Challenge Cup Final referee Gareth Hewer). They needed to experience this before next week.

“The lads haven’t played for six or seven weeks, some even longer than that,” he revealed.

“We had to give as many people game time as possible. We had a heavy week of training and a few lads were blowing in the second half, but we did that on purpose. We’ll change to a proper prep week this week. There are big improvements we need to make.”