AS FAR as banishing any lingering frustration from the previous season goes, scoring four tries in your first hit-out of the year against an opponent from the division above is a pretty good way to go about it.

That was the case for Shane Toal last Sunday, whose impressive haul capped off a strong display from Barrow Raiders in their opening pre-season friendly of 2017 against Kingstone Press Championship outfit Oldham.

Injury and the form of wide man Eze Harper after joining on loan from Leigh Centurions meant the 21-year-old was restricted to just eight appearances for Raiders in League One last year, although he did still manage to cross the whitewash four times.

But having agreed a new deal to stay at Barrow along with brother Dan over the winter, Toal set his mind to putting in the hard graft in pre-season training – and if last Sunday's display is anything to go by then that work is already starting to reap rewards.

“I was going all right last year, but then I went out of the team with a bit of an injury and struggled to get in,” said Toal, who is set to feature against Whitehaven tomorrow (2pm kick-off).

“I set myself a goal this pre-season of just to work hard, stay injury-free and then I can hit the season hard, hopefully, and it went well against Oldham so I'll keep building on that.

"You get injuries and it's always a bit depressing at first when you're sat in the physio room watching the lads training, but it's always good when you get back to it and it makes you work extra hard. I'm looking forward to getting going.”

Harper may have signed on for Barrow's League One rivals Keighley Cougars, but Toal knows he still faces plenty of competition to secure one of the berths on the wing for the coming season.

Former Raiders youth player Brett Carter has returned to the club from Cumbrian rivals Workington Town, while ex-Royal Marine and Great Britain Armed Forces international Tom Loxam is vying to earn a professional contract as well.

That competition for places is making Toal push even harder for that place, though, and he is impressed with what he has seen from Barrow's new recruits – being particularly thankful to former Workington centre Declan Hulme for setting him up twice against Oldham.

“All of the lads have been working hard and we've got some great new signings as well,” said Toal.

“Dec has come in and he set me up for a couple as well, which I have to thank him for, and it's just good to get going – especially against a team from the league above. We were unlucky not to win it, but a draw will do and it's a great start.

“They played the previous week as well, so it was a great first hit-out for the lads. Everyone came switched on and we've been working hard over the past few months and it showed. We just have to keep building on that getting ready for the League One Cup.”

If Toal can keep up that sort of try-scoring form when the season gets underway, then he may well start to attract the attention of Scotland head coach Steve McCormack.

The Ulverstonian has already represented the Bravehearts at under-19s level and his potential was recognised in 2014 when he was named as the winner of the Thompson-Tait Award for Scottish young player of the year.

But, at present, Toal is not even thinking about the possibility of being on the plane to Australia for the World Cup at the end of the year, where Scotland face a rematch with New Zealand after their impressive 18-18 draw in Workington during the 2016 Four Nations, plus games against Tonga and Samoa in Group B.

“Maybe not just yet,” said Toal. “I know they had a good side and a good hit-out in the Four Nations, but if I build on it then maybe when I'm a bit older. I'm only 21, so I've got plenty of years to come.

“I'm just thinking about Barrow and getting the season going, and hitting it well. I still stay in touch with some of the players now and then, but I haven't really spoken to Steve. We had a bit of an extended squad meeting last year, but that's about it.

“I just want to stay injury-free, and I know if I can do that and I'm getting out on the field then I can put the performances in as well for the lads. I want to stay injury-free as much as I can, work hard in the gym, keep my strength and keep on building on it.”