JOHN Kear promised Bulls fans that his team will keep improving after clinching promotion back to the Championship.

A jubilant Odsal saw them beat Workington 27-8 in today’s League One play-off final to go back up at the first attempt.

Having lost twice to Leon Pryce’s side during the season, the Bulls proved too strong and ran in six tries.

Kear said: “I just feel the team has evolved in the two play-off games.

“We scored six tries this week and nine against Oldham in the semi-final and that’s when the chips are down. It’s sudden death, trap-door rugby and they’ve really fronted up.

“It’s been a tough season when you’re there to be shot at and the ones everybody wants to beat.

“But I think that’s hardened them up for these two play-off games. This team is evolving and it’s going to be better next year.

“We’ve got stability and we’re going to add quality.”

Jy Hitchcox bagged a hat-trick to extend his strong end-of-season scoring run and earned the plaudits from his head coach.

Kear added: “When Jy came over to Featherstone I thought he was fantastic. Then he moved to Cas and we managed to get him on loan here.

“I thought he was magnificent. I don’t like singling players out but it wasn’t just the tries he scored but when he was in yardage he caused them all sorts of trouble.

“We wanted to go at their big men with footwork and keep them working in that middle channel. We did and I think it paid off.”

Workington had Fuifui Moimoi sent off and Kear was delighted that his team kept their heads. Matty Garside was sin-binned for a professional foul but the Bulls held firm when he was off the pitch.

Kear said: “Matt apologised for that rush of blood but it didn’t matter because the other players managed the ball very cleverly.

“They defended as if their lives depended on it and those 10 minutes were the ones that really brought us through. Credit to the players in the end because they scored some great tries as well.

“Some of the attacking play was breath-taking and I think we surprised Workington. We changed how we played against them and I think it came up trumps.

“All that mattered was the 'W' against the name and that’s what we’ve got. It’s a great feeling to win promotion.

“Next year we won’t be the team to be shot at all the time. We’ll just be one of many, so it will be a bit of relief to us all.”

Workington coach Pryce, whose side have one more crack at promotion at Swinton next week, said: “Bradford have got the resources to pay quadruple what we can and that showed.

“But there are no excuses, we were beaten by the better team on the day. Congratulations to Bradford.”