JIMMY Lowes will challenge his players to put together an 80-minute performance at Featherstone next weekend following their 34-4 victory over Whitehaven.

The Bulls were well below par during the first half and led only 10-4 against the Cumbrian part-timers, before a second-half hat-trick from Lee Gaskell secured an ultimately comfortable win.

Head coach Lowes is expecting a far sterner test from Featherstone and admitted yesterday's error-strewn first-half display was simply not good enough.

Lowes said: "I thought we were very poor in the first half and it was very disappointing. We said that at half-time and it wasn't so much of a roasting because the boys knew themselves.

"We were trying to score at every opportunity and we made a great break but Harry Siejka kicked on the very next play and there was no reason to do that.

"Harry gets a rush of blood at times, as you saw against Leigh, and one of the things we spoke about during the week was being a bit more composed.

"We were a little bit panicky and were chasing points – but we were a lot more composed in the second half with Harry, Lee Gaskell and Adam O'Brien.

"We've got some good players here but Lee is a very good player; he's a bit of a stand-out player.

"After the break we were far better. We played the conditions better and carried the ball far stronger."

Lowes admitted it had been a tough game against a typical Cumbrian side.

"I thought Adam Sidlow, Paul Clough and Adam O'Brien were very strong up front for us again – but I could probably pick this performance to bits and I will do," said the Bradford coach.

"I just think we were playing a bit panicky, as we did against Leigh in the second half.

"It would be nice to take the first half from Leigh and the second half from Whitehaven and put it together.

"That was a battle out there but I expect a Leigh-type encounter at Featherstone on Sunday."

Lowes revealed the Bulls will contest the disciplinary charges against Danny Williams and Harry Siejka which followed the Leigh game.

He revealed that Jake Mullaney sustained an eye injury yesterday and was replaced by Ryan Shaw.

"Jake got a poke in the eye but I wanted to give Ryan a go, being a Cumbrian lad," said Lowes.

"But I won't be changing the side much this season. That's why I like Jose Mourinho so much – he doesn't make many changes and that's why Chelsea are the most consistent team in the country.

"It gives you a chance to gel and I will be sticking with the core of the side."