WELL, that’s the end of the pre-season friendlies and, based on what we have seen so far, attending Craven Park on a Saturday evening should be a very pleasant experience.

Keighley Cougars were a shadow of their former selves and, not taking anything away from Barrow’s dominant display, it was the worst Cougars team I have seen for some time. How they recently defeated Whitehaven 46-0 and only the week before edged Bradford Bulls 25-24 is a mystery.

The first half was a carbon copy of the Whitehaven visit a couple of weeks ago, 30-0 up and in total control with the visitors offering very little and been outplayed in all departments.

The second half was also similar to the Whitehaven game, with Barrow easing somewhat and allowing the visitors to gain some respectability with a final scoreline of 48-14.

Cougars coach Craig Lingard said: “To put it simply, the first half performance was unacceptable. Rugby league is a simple game and if you’re not prepared to tackle as hard as someone is going to run at you then you’re going to lose.”

So, Barrow are looking good.

Yes, there are still things to work on and improve, but let’s give credit where credit is due and congratulate the club and, in particular, coach Paul Crarey and his support staff in establishing a very strong squad capable of going one better than last season and gaining promotion to the Championship.

We know Toronto are odds-on favourites to finish champions, but Barrow are well fancied to finish second and, to be honest, I don’t think we will have a better chance.

This is it. We have the armoury to be successful and we must not blow it. Complacency and indiscipline are our greatest enemies and have been for many seasons under many different coaches. Although Craven Park is a bit of a fortress, we don’t travel that well and that is my only concern. So no game this week, an opportunity to review the performances and prepare well for the trip to amateurs Rochdale Mayfield in the iPro Sport Cup tie next weekend.

They are in Ladbrokes Challenge Cup action today with a tough tie at Cumbrian side Kells. They both play their rugby in the Premier Division and I am sure someone from the club will be travelling to Whitehaven to assess our opponents, who are a well-drilled outfit coached by ex-Rochdale Hornets coach Matt Calland.

Workington Town play Whitehaven again next week in the same iPro Sport Cup tournament, but Town will be full of confidence after ex-Raiders coach Dave Clark opened his West Cumbrian derby account with a bang as he brought the Ike Southward Memorial Trophy back to Derwent Park with a good 32-16 victory against Haven.

Clark is assembling a pretty good squad which includes a significant Furness contingent in Joe Hambley, Sam Dowsett and Perry Singleton and last week Town pulled off a major coup by signing the experienced ex-Huddersfield, Hull KR, Widnes, Swinton, Salford and Bradford star Phil Joseph.

“We have quietly and effectively gone about our business, assembling a squad with a great mix of experience and raw talent,” he said.

Could Town could be our biggest threat?