SHANE Toal played a starring role with four tries for Barrow Raiders, but the home side had to settle for a 22-22 draw in their opening pre-season friendly against Oldham after Dave Hewitt's converted try on the stroke of full time.

Winger Toal, who extended his stay with Barrow over the winter, was in devastating form and lit up a dull, damp day at Craven Park with his haul, with Declan Hulme getting on the scoresheet as well.

The Raiders actually outscored their opponents five tries to four, but goal-kickers Lewis Charnock and Ryan Johnston were only able to land one conversion between them – albeit with all of their kicks coming from out wide in tough conditions.

Given the steady rain, it was little surprise there was little in the way of expansive rugby from either team and the opening exchanges saw both sets of players trying to wear each other down.

The deadlock was eventually broken in the 16th minute and it was the home side who got the score. Having been awarded a scrum 10 metres out after Hulme had narrowly missed out on scoring, the Raiders worked the ball out wide for Luke Cresswell to send Toal over.

Charnock was unable to convert, but he was on hand to provide the assist for Toal's second try seven minutes later, with the Ulverstonian powering through two would-be Oldham tacklers to get the ball down for another unconverted try.

Oldham began to work their way back into the game – aided by some indiscipline from the home side in conceding a number of penalties – and although a superb interception from trialist Ethan Kelly snuffed out one attack, the Roughyeds would go into half time leading.

Some fine individual skill from stand-off Scott Leatherbarrow saw him jink through the defence, dot down under the posts and add the conversion on 35 minutes, followed by Jamel Chisholm plucking Dave Hewitt's kick to the corner out of the air and grabbing an unconverted try.

That saw the Roughyeds holding a slender lead when the hooter sounded for the break and the second half continued in much the same vein as the first when play resumed.

Toal restored the lead for Barrow by completing his hat-trick on 54 minutes, finishing off a great move which saw the ball moved across the back line to the former Scotland under-19s international.

Another disciplinary lapse from the Raiders, this time for offside on their own line, led to Kenny Hughes diving over from close range for a try and the conversion from Leatherbarrow opened up a four-point gap for Oldham.

However, that man Toal capped a ruthless display of finishing with his fourth of the game in the 64th minute to level the scores and former Workington Town centre Hulme followed soon after, with the conversion from Charnock putting Barrow a converted try ahead.

There was one more twist though as Oldham scrum-half Hewitt took advantage of some confusion between the Barrow players and match officials at a scrum to nip through and score just as the final hooter went, with Leatherbarrow converting to level the scores. However, this did not detract from the display and head coach Paul Crarey will be satisfied with his side's efforts.

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.