Bradford Bulldogs U-18s 6 Billingham Junior Stars 2: Tom Mardell makes win four-gone conclusion
TOM MARDELL produced a brilliant four-goal haul to help Bulldogs’ Under-18s to an impressive 6-2 victory over Billingham Junior Stars on Sunday.
In a strange twist, Ryan Wardell - having been in net for the Bulldogs’ senior team 24 hours earlier - found himself in the opponents’ net for his hometown team on this occasion.
And he was equally solid again, particularly in the first period when he turned away 16 of the 17 shots on his net.
The one that beat him was Mardell’s opener - on the power play - at 17.44, the only goal of the first period.
With just 63 seconds of the second having passed, however, the Bulldogs found themselves 2-1 adrift, Sam Dowd equalising at 20.45 before doubling his tally 18 seonds later.
The Bulldogs responded well, though, and were level when Daragh Spawforth struck on the power play at 23.17.
Just over two minutes later, the Bulldogs’ power play kicked in again when Mardell made it two for the night off a Spawforth feed.
The home team were on a roll and went 4-2 ahead at 27.00, Mardell setting up Mackenzie Barker before sealing his hat-trick at 28.23.
The hosts continued to dominate in the third - eventually out-shooting the Stars 49-25 on the night - and Mardell was able to cap amemorable game when he scored his fourth at 49.38.