Potter hails defensive strength of Bradford Bulls

They came away from their West Yorkshire rivals with a 20-12 win yesterday despite spending much of the time battling on their own line.

Having been easily exploited a week earlier at home to Catalan, Potter was delighted with their response as they slogged it out in the Wheldon Road mud.

“Today was probably a little bit heavier than last week but the players themselves were determined to have a different outcome,” he said.

“They worked their bums off especially with the try line defence.

“They were under heaps of pressure, whether brought on ourselves by dropped possession or being marched down the field with penalties, but the players just defended so well.”

The triumph was all the more gratifying considering it came with two players sidelined for the majority of the contest.

Young back-row James Donaldson was helped off after just 20 minutes and Australian centre Adrian Purtell did not return in the second half while Bradford also kept their line in tact while Heath L’Estrange was sin-binned in the second half.

“I was impressed with our intensity under adversity,” added Potter, whose side entertain Wigan on Sunday.

“There was no fuss about it; we weren’t blaming anyone and just worked together to get the job done.

“We did it a little bit tough. Donaldson has a knee injury and we’re not sure the extent of it while Adrian Purtell has a chest problem and will have it scanned tomorrow.

“But we’re talking weeks. Neither will be playing against Wigan.

“Overall, this was back to winter rugby league and we just handled it a little bit better than them.”

Castleford coach Ian Millward, who had seen his side master wintry conditions at Salford last week to earn a win, admitted Bradford warranted the points.

“I was worried about our legs going into game,” he said.

“It was noticeable Salford tired quickly on Friday night and we tried to keep the players light this week but we physically never got a ball session all week and I thought we looked quite rusty in possession.

“We threatened to score quite a few times but just weren’t as clinical as we could be in attack and didn’t stick to our principles.

“Under pressure we went back to a couple of habits. We just probably didn’t build the right pressure but it was a game of inches and Bradford’s attitude and energy was terrific.”