L'Estrange determined Bradford Bulls will not be left Red-faced again (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Heath L'Estrange determined Bradford Bulls will not be left Red-faced again

7:10am Thursday 17th May 2012 in Sport By Ross Heppenstall, Bradford Bulls Reporter

DROPPED POINTS: Heath L’Estrange spills the ball in the 38-18 loss to the City Reds at Odsal in March, which came on the back of two straight wins, including a home success over St Helens

Heath L’Estrange admits the Bulls owe Salford City Reds one as they seek to avenge last season’s mauling at the Willows and their home humiliation eight weeks ago.

Mick Potter’s men were thumped 56-16 at Salford last April and were on the receiving end again when the Reds triumphed 38-18 at Odsal on March 25.

Nevertheless, the Bulls have shaped up as genuine play-off contenders this term and lie three points clear of ninth-placed Hull KR ahead of their maiden trip to the new Salford City Stadium tomorrow.

Joint skipper L’Estrange is eyeing a fifth away win of the season and revenge against Phil Veivers’ men.

“We were on a high going into the home game against Salford earlier in the season,” said the Bulls hooker.

“We had won at Hull KR and then beat St Helens prior to that game, and are probably on a high again this time.

“Perhaps, like last year at the Willows, we underestimated Salford and got punished.

“We owe them one but we just need to keep our heads and play our own game.

“They’ve got some quality Aussies in their side and a great bunch of local lads too. They deserve our respect but this is about what we do.

“It’s a good opportunity for us to keep our away record going and keep that distance between ourselves and Hull KR.”

L’Estrange has taken encouragement from the way in which his side recovered from 16-0 down to put London Broncos to the sword in their last outing.

“It’s not the first time we’ve done it this year and it shows the unity and spirit within the side,” he added.

“But we should be at our strongest in the first ten or 15 minutes and we’ve worked hard on things since the London game.

“We need to start strongly against Salford tomorrow night.”

Brett Kearney (ankle) and Adrian Purtell (hamstring) remain sidelined by injury and John Bateman is still banned.

However, Bateman will be available to face arch-rivals Leeds after it was revealed that tomorrow’s trip to Salford will be the final game of his three-match suspension.

The previous two games were the Super League trip to London and the Academy game against Warrington last weekend.