Bradford Bulls boss proud of whole team at York City Knights

There were heroes all over the pitch for Bulls, both forwards and backs, as they produced just a second win since June, and a first victory away from Odsal against one of the current top six all season.

Full-back Elliot Kear for example, had to assume the unfamiliar role of goal kicker, where he did superbly apart from one horrible effort that clanked off the post.

He was also imperious under the high ball, a brilliant last line of defence, and produced some vital tackles.

But Dunning was keen to praise the collective, saying: “Elliot’s someone who did well, and I think we could make a case for everyone in the side.

“I thought Matty Dawson-Jones and Rhys Evans on the right edge defended really well.

“I felt the middles, Steve Crossley, George Flanagan and Tom Doyle, were all good, and Chester Butler and AJ Wallace too.

“I could honestly name them all. We’ve had a one to 17, nine out of 10 performance.”

Dunning could not help but reserve some special praise for teenage scrum-half Myles Lawford, who had to take the lead in the halves, having been paired for this encounter with usual loose forward Sam Hallas.

Dec Patton, Billy Jowitt and Jordan Lilley were all absent, but it was not just his attacking game under scrutiny, with the slight Lawford standing up brilliantly in defence too.

Dunning beamed: “The only word I can use for Myles is mature. He’s not fazed before the game, he doesn’t get nervous, and he’s as tough as teak.

“You look at him and you think, ‘Jesus, should he be on this field with these big people?’

“But there was one time Pauli Pauli tried to run over the top of him, but Myles was just like a speedbump.

“He puts his body in the way and he doesn’t whinge about it at all, so he’s somebody we’re very proud of.”

Myles Lawford gets a big hug at full-time after an outstanding display in the halves. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

But Dunning does not want this win to count for nothing, and he said: “The challenge for these boys is going to be replicate this now next time out against Whitehaven.

“I said the other week, if I could bottle confidence and sell it, I’d be a very rich man.

“We’ve been through a slump, and it’s like we’ve been in a glass jar.

“People on the outside of that jar have been pointing fingers and throwing stuff in the jar.

“But we took the lid off last week, and I think you’ve seen tonight that a lot of players jumped out of the jar and fought back.”

Joe Brown’s try just before the break to pull York back to within four points threatened to be a momentum changer, yet the second half finished scoreless.

Asked if he was proud of how Bulls kept their heads after the blow of Brown’s try, Dunning said: “It did please me.

“I looked my players in their eyes at half-time, and I wanted to get a feel for things without having to talk to people.

“And there was a steel in their eyes, an absolute commitment to each other.

“It was so pleasing to be a part of and watch, but we’ve got to build on that for next week, because we can’t let it be a one-game wonder.”

George Flanagan wears his heart on his sleeve, so it was no surprise he was one of the many who stood up to be counted last night.

Dunning’s side looked good in attack before the break, but he admitted that side of their game was not flawless.

He said: “I still felt we were a bit clunky at times in good ball, but when we’re having to put a makeshift half-back pairing together, I’ll forgive clunkiness all day long if we can put in displays like that.

“When we did make errors, and there was a few, the endeavour and intent to defend those errors was something you can’t coach or train for, that was just sheer, great determination.”

Despite a brutal encounter, Dunning’s side came through relatively unscathed.

He laughed: “If there are no bruises on anybody after that game, I’ll be absolutely shellshocked.

“They’ll get tomorrow night (Monday) off to rest and recuperate and spend time with their families.

“As part-time players, they need and deserve that.

“They’ll get their recovery protocol emailed to them in the morning, and we’ll take stock of it from there.

“Right now, as we speak, there’s a little bit of a gash to Sam Hallas’ cheek, but it’s nothing that’ll stop him playing.”