PAUL Crarey believes there is still plenty for Barrow Raiders to improve on as pre-season reaches its conclusion – and that is just fine by him.

The Raiders rebounded from a defeat to Oldham in their opening friendly with a 24-8 victory over Whitehaven on Sunday, with Crarey particularly enthused by what he felt was a much-improved defensive display from his team.

Elements of Barrow’s support play and structure pleased him too, although he cited the kicking game and decision-making in attack as two areas to work on ahead of the Betfred Championship season-opener at Batley Bulldogs on February 3.

However, Crarey would rather the Raiders have aspects to work on at this point rather than simply steam-rolling their way through the pre-season matches.

“It’s doing us good that we need to improve,” said Crarey. “If we’d have killed Oldham and been clinical and won by 50 or 60 against Whitehaven, we’d be patting each other on the back and probably going to Batley and getting towelled up.

“The Championship is a lot different to that, but I think the boys know that. We pushed the ball a little against Whitehaven and ended up in trouble rather than playing in quick rucks like you have to do in the Championship.

“But everything changes; the atmosphere for league games is so different in the changing rooms, and we’ve got young players in there, which also changes.”

Crarey again rotated the squad against Whitehaven, although a slight injury to Jamie Dallimore meant a reshuffle in the halves and Wartovo Puara Jr playing a longer spell at hooker on his debut than planned before Lewis Charnock slotted in there.

Rookie half-back Jake Carter got more professional experience under his belt though, while newcomers Jordan Walne, Deon Cross and Tee Ritson were among Barrow’s try-scorers.

Only one of their four tries came in the second half though and Crarey felt that was down to not utilising the likes of Jono Smith and Willie Minoga enough to attack gaps on the left, and going away from what had worked well for them earlier in the game.

“At 24-4, everyone wants to score and play football and you can’t,” said Crarey.

“You’ve got to keep doing what you did to get you to that point and we’ve got to learn that, and the new players have got to sit in.

“It’s a big job as a coaching staff to get these players to sing off the same hymn sheet, but we’ll do it.

“We’ve got two weeks until we go to Batley and then we’ve got to settle the PNG boys down for when spring comes and the ground gets harder, and you’ll get the best out of them.”