Bradford Bulldogs Under-14s get back to winning ways as 12s and 10s enjoy tournament mode

WINNING TRACK: Bulldogs' Under-14s celebrate Charlie Barker's third-period strike in the 11-5 win over Manchester on Saturday. Picture: Andy Bourke/Podium Prints.

BRADFORD BULLDOGS Under-14s got back to winning ways when they defeated Manchester Storm Academy in Division One North with an 11-5 victory.

The home team got off to a perfect start at Bradford Ice Arena when they fired themselves 4-0 ahead inside 10 minutes.

The deadlock was broken with just 24 seconds on the board when Will Durgan fired home from the top of the right circle, Danny Harrison doubling the lead at 2.16.

A second for Harrison just 48 seconds later put the home team firmly in control, Durgan making it 4-0 at 8.35 with a tip-in from in front off a shot from Harrison at the top of the right circle.

Storm got themselves back in the game just 29 seconds into the second period when Leo Cooper burst down the middle unchallenged from his own zone before firing past Jacob Mardell from 10 yards.

COMING THROUGH: Bulldogs' #9 Frank O'Sullivan forces his way through past two Manchester opponents. Picture: Andy Bourke/Podium Prints.

But the Bulldogs restored their four-goal lead when Kieran Smith tipped in Josh Guy’s shot from the blue line in the 20th minute, Noah Marfleet making it 5-2 with Storm’s second before Frank O’Sullivan got on the board with his first goal of the game at 23.44.

Again Storm came back, Cooper’s second at 24.12 making it 6-3 but, again, the Bulldogs quickly restored their advantage, a second for Durgan straight from a face-off win in the left circle giving the home team a 7-3 lead going into the second break.

NICE TOUCH: Josh Guy helps Kieran Smith celebrate his second-period tip-in which made it 5-1 to Bradford in their 11-5 win over Manchester. Picture: Andy Bourke/Podium Prints.

Good work down low by O’Sullivan saw him find Harrison free in front to fire home for his hat-trick marker just 54 seconds into the third period, although Manchester refused to go away, bringing the score back to 8-4 with a long-range effort just 20 seconds later, sealing his own treble.

But a Charlie Barker strike - off a feed from Maksims Gailiss - at 34.10 and a fourth from Harrison five minutes later put the game beyond doubt.

David Vasinc grabbed a fifth goal for the visitors at 40.31 before O’Sullivan doubled his tally to complete the scoring just under two minutes later.

Bulldogs Under-12s impress and for third place at Sutton

BULLDOGS Under-12s came away pleased with their efforts at an all-day tournament at Sutton, earning themselves a third-place finish. 

A 3-2 win earned through a Thomas Lee double and a Kyle Bower strike saw them edge out the hosts and after a 0-0 stalemate against Nottingham they came out on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline against Leeds Knights Juniors, Jonas Mtethwa scoring the Bulldogs’ goal. 

Bulldogs' Under-12s excelled with their performances at Saturday's tournament in Sutton.

Mtethwa bagged himself a double in the next game, as the Bulldogs romped to a 5-0 win over Peterborough, the other goals coming from Lee, Bower and Nathan Mitchell.

That brought the Bulldogs up against Sutton again in the third-fourth place play-off and it was a repeat of the earlier clash between the two teams, with Bradford running out 3-2 winners, Lee repeating his two-goal effort from the earlier encounter, with Bentley McEwen also getting on the scoresheet.

Alfie McAlinden.

BULLDOGS Under-10s hosted their first jamboree of the season, taking on teams from Manchester, Blackburn and Widnes.

There was plenty of energetic, cross-ice action on show on Sunday afternoon at Bradford Ice Arena, with all four teams taking the opportunity to make the most of competitive ice time, with Alfie McAlinden taking home the ‘Spirit of the Game’ award for Bradford.