James Lowes has won an award from the readers of Rugby Leaguer and League Express.

The Bradford Bulls hooker has been named Tetley's Super League Mature Player of the Year, polling 33.74 per cent of the votes.

Second in the list of players who were over 30 by the end of the season was Wigan's Gary Connolly (19.86 per cent), recently signed by Leeds Rhinos, and third was Widnes' former Bulls full back Stuart Spruce (10.02 per cent).

Brian Noble was third in the Coach of the Year poll with 14.96 per cent behind Widnes' Neil Kelly (51.81 per cent) and St Helens' Ian Millward (21.57 per cent).

Former Bull Glen Tomlinson (Batley Bulldogs) was Northern Ford Premiership Player of the Year and was second in their Overseas Player of the Year listing behind Huddersfield's Stanley Gene.

Salford City Reds' coaching staff, including former Bulls assistant coach Karl Harrison, will pay a flying visit to France today to spy on their TXU Energi Challenge Cup opponents Toulouse.

The Spacers, front-runners to land a Super League franchise for 2004, will visit The Willows in the third round of the cup on Sunday, January 26, but also face a crunch league match tonight when they take on fellow title-chasers Villeneuve.

Reds football director Steve Simms, who will be accompanied on the trip by head coach Harrison, said: "We're going over to assess their capability and we'll be bringing some videos back for closer analysis.

"We've been fortunate to be able to speak to plenty of people from the French RFL and other clubs to try and build up a picture of the Toulouse side, but it's no substitute for going over and watching them play."

Former Salford centre Jason Webber will be in the Villeneuve line-up and is tipping his old club to win the Anglo-French cup tie.

"We have an important game against them this weekend and we'll be looking to put in an impressive performance to boost our league standing," said the Australian.

"I've spoken to coaching staff at the club and we've had a chat about where potential threats lie. There are a few Australians in the Toulouse side and two French internationals.

"I'll be keeping an eye on the Salford score - I really enjoyed my time at the club - and I'm sure that the team will be able to get a win against Toulouse, especially at The Willows."

Villeneuve, who reached the Challenge Cup quarter-finals two years ago, play Featherstone Rovers at the Lionheart Stadium in the third round.

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