WEST Bowling have made a rampant start to the National Conference League season, but head coach Dean Muir did not like what he saw last Saturday.

The Bradford side lost for the first time all season in Division One, 38-36 at home to derby rivals Stanningley, meaning they now only top the table on points difference.

The Horsfall side have a remarkably rapid shot at revenge though, with the reverse fixture against their neighbours taking place this weekend.

Muir, previously Rhys Lovegrove's assistant at Keighley Cougars, felt his side made the fatal mistake of moving away from the tactics that had brought them five wins out of five to start the campaign.

He told the T&A: "The scary thing is I don't think we've played that well so far.

"We've probably only being properly at our best for 20 or 30 minutes per game, but we've blown teams away with our attack in that time.

"We've worked hard defensively though and before Stanningley were only conceding 12 points per game on average.

"But we played boring, one out rugby against Stanningley, and the game turned into an arm-wrestle and a grind.

"Coaches always talk about winning that, but what does it even mean?

"We've banned those words because it's not what we want to be doing.

"We lost against Stanningley because we gave away too many penalties and had sets made up of five drives and a kick, which we never do.

"The lads played horrible, amateur rugby league and the group chat among them on Monday after the game was interesting.

"They hate losing, and know they can be a test from anyone in Division One or the Premier Division, because they're a good side."

Bowling will hope to show that second time around against Stanningley, with Muir saying: "It'll be good to try and right some wrongs so quickly, but sometimes, playing someone different is nice after a defeat.

"I've never known back to back fixtures in rugby league like this, but the lads have trained hard and tapped back into what they need and were taught in pre-season.

"The leaders of the group, and even some of the less vocal lads have stepped up this week and told others to come along with them."

Top of the league, having also reached the Challenge Cup third round, Bowling look in better shape than ever.

Muir reflected: "It's hard to comment on previous years, as I wasn't here, but a lot of these boys have been here for a while.

"They're at an age now where they're thinking they should potentially be playing at a higher level and that seems to have spurred them on as a group.

"My staff and I like to play a different brand of rugby league. The lads have bought into that and are training differently because of it.

"It maybe helps that I'm an outsider, as someone who's never played or coached at West Bowling before this season, because it's allowed a totally fresh slate."

Expanding on his 'brand' of rugby league, Muir explained: "Our half-backs don't call the plays, they've all been set already.

"I see rugby league as like being on a chess board, in that wherever you land on the field, you should have two options up your sleeve.

“All that allows our half-backs and other creative players freedom, particularly in our spine.

“We don’t have loads of time in practice, so we have to make the most of what we have, but we train like a professional team and make sure we do things with speed.”