IT’S been a fantastic week for the Bradford Bulls with the highlight certainly being the Bradford Sports Awards.

Congratulations to our women's team for their success at the awards in beating Bradford City for the Club/Team of the Year, and to the individual recognition for Amy Hardcastle in the Sportswoman of the Year category, and also to their coach Mark Prescott for his nomination for coach of the Year.

Congratulations also to Active Bradford and the excellent event put on where special mention needs to be made of the efforts of Wayne Jacobs and his team, in what was a high-quality professional event.

The magnitude of our women's success can’t be understated. Our women's amateur rugby league team, defeating the full-time professional Bradford City team, finished off an excellent night and an exciting milestone for the Bradford Bulls club.

On the field the Bulls continued their winning form with a solid victory over a tough Keighley Cougars side.

John Kear had been reinforcing all week the need to keep emotions in check and be prepared for the oncoming blitzkrieg.

To be fair when Elliot Minchella was up-ended in the fifth minute in a dangerous looking spear tackle, things could have spiralled out of control.

Well done to ref Billy Pearson, for keeping a lid on the inferno. It’s always difficult when emotions are running high, the crowd is massive and vocal, while the players are running completely on adrenalin.

We’ve all seen plenty of games go the other way, where players spark off and next minute it’s a firestorm. Everyone knows that the discipline and professionalism of this year’s side will be continuously put to the test, as opposition side's try to divide the Bulls players into the “lion or lamb” category.

This week we break from the rigours of the League One title pursuit, and instead focus on Round Four of the Challenge Cup.

Having drawn Hunslet, at South Leeds Stadium, we expect another tough physical encounter as Hunslet attempt to turn the Bulls into lamb steaks.

Whatever your view, the Bulls will need to show plenty of respect to the Gary Thornton trained opposition, who have recorded very good wins against Oulton Raiders, Hemel Stags and North Wales Crusaders scoring an average of 42 points in each match.

It’s not clear if George Flanagan will take the field in this a huge clash against his old club.

Having played and captained Hunslet over the years, I’m sure many a Hunslet supporter will have a view about our new signing.

If he plays I’m sure the Bulls faithful will look to drown out the welcome back chorus from the Hunslet quarter. It won’t be short on action. George is an experienced player having played under John Kear before, and he provides further balance to the squad.

Potentially, you may also find another new signing make his debut. Jake Butler Fleming (ex York City Knights) is joining the Bulls on loan from the Toronto Wolfpack.

Jake is a handy centre or wing who has become available to the Bulls. We are certainly excited at having this Australian player in the mix.

The task of player recruitment is a continuous one, as the coaching staff look ahead on our journey towards redemption.

Certainly, the player bar has risen since last year, and this will continue to be the case.

Lowie thinks a team like Hunslet is lurking, plotting and scheming to put the Bulls scalp firmly above the fire place.

There will be no easy games, especially not the team from Hunslet. The Bulls will be working overtime to avoid the spot above the mantel piece.

He’s experienced it all. Having won and lost Challenge Cups. When Lowie says beware – we should all be listening. Second place will have to wait until 2019 for their chance again.

See you Sunday at the South Leeds Stadium for a 3pm kick-off. Come and join the stampede.