BULLS coach John Kear praised his side's spirit, desire and smartness after he and his team had been "put through the shredder" yesterday at The Recreation Ground.

Cash-strapped Whitehaven, who have now raised the £60,000 they need to keep going until the end of the season, led 8-0 and threatened to triumph when they hit back to trail by a point at 21-20 inside the last ten minutes.

The Betfred League One leaders only ensured their 27-20 victory with a try by hooker Vila Halafihi with three minutes remaining.

Other tries for the Bulls came from Joe Keyes (2) and Steve Crossley, with Dane Chisholm adding five goals and Keyes a timely drop goal.

Whitehaven replied with tries by Daniel Abram, Dion Ayre and Josh Eaves, with Abram adding four goals.

Kear said: "I wasn't really happy with how we played but what this is is a victory for spirit, desire and a little bit of smartness at times, such as Joe Keyes going for the one point and the side making the decision to camp up at the Whitehaven end as the clock was running down rather than take the goal which would have taken us from one to three.

"So overall, I am pleased, but there is room for improvement."

The Bulls had lost on their previous trip to Cumbria, by 17-16 at Workington Town in early April, and Kear reiterated: "I have been telling everybody how difficult it is to come up to Cumbria.

"There is the logistics side of things with all of the travelling but you always come up against a really determined Whitehaven side who don't give you anything.

"We had to earn every metre, every point, every little winning contact so it has been a very tough afternoon."

Kear added: "What we will do when we look back at this result – Whitehaven 20 Bradford Bulls 27 – we'll register that it was a win, but there is a story within that.

"In six to seven weeks' time that story will tell us that it was two vital points gained up at Whitehaven, and I'll tell you what I said before the game – if we come away with the two points like North Wales did a couple of weeks ago when they won 25-22 I would be delighted.

"To be honest, I was expecting my nerves to go through the shredder, and they (Whitehaven) didn't disappoint me."

Meanwhile, Matty Garside was put on report in the second half for leading with his shoulder while tackling Ayre.