Weekend Review: Billingham Buccaneers v Bradford Bulldogs plus Under-16s

ROAD RUNNERS: Bradford Bulldogs snapped a nine-game losing streak with a gritty 5-4 win at Billingham Buccaneers. Picture: Joanne Gibson.

BRADFORD BULLDOGS’ head coach Andy Brown admitted it felt good to experience that winning feeling once again after seeing his team enjoy a 5-4 triumph at Billingham Buccaneers.

The road win snapped a nine-game losing streak for the Bulldogs, who hadn’t won an NIHL North Two game since September 24. 

It also gives them a massive confidence boost ahead of this weekend’s games at Kingston Sharks and at home to Altrincham Aces (face-off, Sunday, 5.30pm). 

Connor Medley led the way at Billingham Forum with a hat-trick, while Josh Stockton bagged the other two. At the other end, netminder Jake Lowndes was resolute in turning away 37 of the 41 shots on his goal.

‘It was good to finally get a win again,” said Brown. “We’ve been improving over the last few fixtures and we felt good going into the game. 

“We had Connor Medley and Jack Wooding back in the line up which gave us a little more depth than we’ve had recently.”

It was a strong first period which gave the Bulldogs the platform for the win, particularly after they went 2-0 ahead through Stockton, his first coming at 6.48 before he doubled his tally just under three minutes later. 

The Bulldogs’ forward then took a boarding call which handed a power play opportunity to the hosts, who took advantage at 15.09 to halve the deficit through Lucas Dowdle.

But the visitors responded well and restored their two-goal advantage ahead of the first intermission, Medley firing home with just two seconds of the period remaining. 

As expected, the hosts came fighting back hard in the second but, crucially, the Bulldogs had a response. 

Tom Wakefield made it a one-goal game again at 25.22, only for Medley to double his quota for the night and restore his team’s advantage just 58 seconds later. 

It got even better for both player and team just over six minutes later when Medley sealed his second hat-trick of the season to make it 5-2. 

But a nervy third period was ensured after Billingham reduced the arrears thanks to another power play opportunity that came about as the result of a roughing call on Dean Boothroyd, Sean Griffiths making the man advantage count to make it 5-3 at 37.02. 

Billingham pushed hard in the third to try and get back on level terms but it wasn’t until the 59th minute that they gave themselves a chance when former Bulldogs’ forward Josh Reynolds made it 5-4. 

But it was too little, too late, Bulldogs seeing the game out for a deserved two points, much to the delight of their coach. 

“It was great to take the lead early and be able to play with it for the entire game,” he added. “That’s something we’ve not done since the opening games of the season. 

“Far too often we’ve been in control of games and then let them slip away from us, so to do that was massive.

“Hopefully we can build on this and take it into next weekend’s double-header against Kingston and Altrincham.”

This week the Bulldogs have back-to-back games, travelling to Kingston Sharks on Saturday (12.30pm face-off) before hosting Altrincham Aces on Sunday at ‘The Pound’ (face-off 5.30pm).

Tickets are available on the door - where you can pay cash or card. Doors open at 4.45pm: Adults: £5; U-16s/concessions: £2.50; KIDS (U-12s) FOR A QUID; Family of Four: £12

• Thanks to Tony Burgum Photography for allowing use of his match pictures on our website and social media channels

Bulldogs Under-16s suffer as Storm rips through ‘The Pound’

BRADFORD BULLDOGS Under-16s endured a difficult afternoon in their Division One North clash against Manchester Storm Academy, going down 12-0 at Bradford Ice Arena

The game was effectively over inside the first period when a talented Storm outfit raced into a 10-0 lead.

Liam Hine got the ball rolling with just 67 seconds on the clock before a double from Mario Vaksmansky made it 3-0 inside as many minutes.

Kane Morin made it 4-0 at 3.55 before further first period strikes came from Ollie Gotts, Rafferty Smith, Henry Phillips, Theo Malone and Bailey Thomas.

Further goals arrived in the second period, Malone sealing his hat-trick at 17.54 with Phillips doubling his tally in the 25th minute, before the mercy rule kicked in.

Captain Daragh Spawforth (above left) picked up the Bulldogs’ Spirit of the Game award, with Ollie Gotts (above right) taking home the award for Manchester.