RICHIE Mathers was gutted to lose the Summer Bash showdown with Leigh but declared: "We set standards with that performance."

The Bulls were on course for victory against their fierce Championship rivals but Micky Higham touched down with two minutes remaining to hand Leigh a 24-20 success.

It was a devastating ending to a thrillingly intense encounter but Mathers, who performed admirably in the halves alongside Oscar Thomas, took heart from his team's display.

"We had won the game – it was done – but we didn't see it out and that was gutting," said Mathers after the clash at Blackpool.

"But this season we have won games at a canter and not performed anywhere near as well or as courageously as we did on Saturday.

"I thought Leigh were fantastic as well and were equally courageous, so another draw would probably have been a fair result.

"Crucially, it was a very intense performance from ourselves and that has to be the standard at Bradford from now on.

"Certainly they are the standards we are training at and setting ourselves because we are preparing for bigger and better things."

Mathers played all his junior rugby at stand-off and enjoyed 80 minutes in the halves at Blackpool on his comeback from a back injury which had sidelined him since the defeat to Halifax on Easter Monday.

"With Lee Gaskell out and James Clare playing fantastically well – I wouldn't leave him out or pick myself ahead of him – I told Rohan (Smith) I was ready to play again," said Mathers.

"Although I had five weeks out injured, it allowed me to have a pre-season that I didn't have when I first joined the club.

"I said to Rohan that I would rather be in the 17, having an influence on the team, than not playing and I didn't want to just be pigeon-holed as a full back.

"I told Rohan I would play anywhere for him and for the squad, so I felt I could bring a calming influence and physical presence in the halves.

"I played stand-off all through my junior career and it was only for a certain Danny McGuire that I had to play full back.

"I played at six for East Leeds and England Schoolboys, when we were the first team to beat the Aussies, with myself and Luke Robinson at six and seven. Therefore I know the position and how to get a side around the field.

"It's not that hard, it's more about providing a calming influence when it's all a bit frantic, as it was on Saturday night. I just wanted to contribute in defence and rip in for the boys because I know we've got the talent in attack."

Mathers is now determined to play a key role in the Bulls' promotion push and admitted: "I've been like a caged animal these past few weeks.

"But I'm now feeling as good as I've ever felt. If I can do a job at nine coming off the bench, at six or seven, then great."