JOHN Kear hailed his side’s character and team spirit after they came through a difficult week to keep alive their play-off hopes.

Bulls won 34-10 at Dewsbury Rams less than three days after the club announced they would be leaving their historic Odsal home.

Ironically they were faced with a trip to the Tetley’s Stadium – where a deal has been agreed for them to play their home games at for the next two seasons.

And they produced a highly efficient performance, which Kear believed show their togetherness in the face of off-field uncertainty.

He said: “The players have been fantastic. I sat them down and in the team meeting I asked them, do you care for each other? I told them, ‘don’t worry about where we are playing or anything like that, just, do you care for each other within the group?’

“I think they came out there in the first 65 minutes and demonstrated exactly that they do care for each other, they are a tight-knit group and they played some good rugby.”

Despite playing into a strong wind in the first half, Bulls led 18-0 and they rammed home their advantage in the second half as six different players got on the try scoresheet.

Kear said: “On a small pitch that normally doesn’t give up many points, to play so well and comprehensively beat a good Dewsbury side makes me absolutely delighted.

“The players executed things very well – they were very smart in lots of their decision making and I’m very happy with what I’ve seen.

“If somebody had said to me you’ll come here and win by 24 points I’d have bit their hand off.”

Rams’ Michael Knowles was sent off for a high shot on Jordan Lilley in the second half as the hosts were reduced to 11 players at one stage.

Kear said: “They are clamping down on these late challenges and obviously when you pass the ball you can relax and get whiplash.

“The NRL are doing it and the RFL are following suit because your pivotal players are your creative players.

“The referee saw it, I didn’t have a very good view on it but he decided a sending off was called for so I’m not going to question him.”

Bulls’ win leaves them three points adrift of fifth-placed Featherstone with two games to go after York beat Fev 22-18.

Kear added: ”Whether our play-off hopes are alive or not, I’m really pleased with the way we've come here and performed today.”