Bulldogs enjoy mixed fortunes on derby dates with Leeds

DOUBLE DIP: Frank O’Sullivan got on the board twice in the Bulldogs’ Under-14s 10-5 home defeat against Leeds Junior Knights. Picture: Andy Bourke/Podium Prints.

BRADFORD BULLDOGS Under-14s went into their last home game of the season hoping to finally reverse the trend against Division One North champions Leeds Junior Knights.

But it was not to be as they came off second-best against their derby rivals for the fourth time this season, going down 10-5. 

The Under-14s will round off their league campaign this Saturday with a visit to Roses rivals Manchester Storm (face-off 6pm).

In a keenly-contested game, it was the Bulldogs who struck first when Will Durgan forced the puck home from close range with just 150 seconds on the clock.

But Leeds were quick to strike back and were 4-1 ahead with just over nine minutes gone, Josh Hartley levelling at 3.00 before further strikes beat Bradford netminder Jack Atkin from Evan Bradon, Hartley and Seb Mifek.

Danny Harrison quickly closed the deficit to two goals when he beat Harrison McCourt at 9.41, but Leeds went into the first period break 5-2 ahead when Harry Harling fired home against his former club.

Thomas Taylor pulled the hosts back to within two again when he combined well with Charlie Barker at 16.12 and although former Bulldog Dylan Strong made it 6-3 at 19.45, Frank O’Sullivan got on the board to reduce the deficit just under a minute later.

With the game in the balance, the next goal would prove crucial and it went the way of the visitors, Lawrence Dean firing past Atkin at 21.48 to make it 7-4.

But it was two further goals in the space of 14 seconds for Leeds that effectively settled the encounter, Ben Elliott’s strike at 26.45 being quickly followed by a goal from Christian Roth to give the Knights a five-goal advantage.

That lead was stretched further by a second effort from Mifek at 34.36, with O’Sullivan doubling his tally for the game with a consolation strike at 36.50.

Farrow’s fantastic four fires Bulldogs to derby win

On Sunday, the two teams met again with different line-ups in a Challenge Development encounter at Elland Road - one which enabled both clubs to give valuable ice time to the players involved.

In an end-to-end clash, Kyle Bower put the Bulldogs ahead at 8.07 but Leeds went in at the first break 2-1 ahead after efforts from Oliver Atkin and Olly Macintyre.

FANTASTIC FOUR: Charlie Farrow switched from his normal position on D to operate as a centre nd scored four goals for the Bulldogs’ in a Challenge Development game against local rivals Leeds. Picture: Andy Bourke/Podium Prints.

Leeds stretched their lead to 4-1 through further efforts from Oliver O’Mara and Zachary Harling before Bradford staged a comeback, making it a one-goal game through strikes from Thomas Taylor and Charlie Farrow, the latter adding a second goal at 22.09 to level matters.

The visitors then regained the lead again through a second for Taylor at 26.59 before Farrow sealed a memorable hat-trick at 28.21 to make it 6-4, although Nadia Molenda made it a one-goal game again just as the period ended.

Bradford stretched their lead further through Farrow and a hat-trick strike from Taylor. And although Anrijs Mikelsons pulled one back for the hosts at 35.10, Alfie Edmondson fired home to seal a 9-6 win.