Bulldogs Junior Review: Under-10s, 14s, 16s and 18s round-up

THAT’S THE SPIRIT (from left): Josh Windass (U-14), Jacob Mardell (U-16), Charlie Farrow (U-18), Harley Lucas (U-14 Digger) and (inset) Arnie Evans (U-10).

IT was a busy weekend for the Bulldogs’ juniors with four of our teams in action. 

In a rare change to the schedule, it was the Under-18s who rounded off the action with a rearranged midweek derby clash at Leeds Junior Knights. 

Heavily outshot throughout, the Bulldogs were grateful to netminder Jacob Mardell who was able to stop 57 of the 64 shots on his net, before the hosts ran out deserved 7-4 winners. 

While they lacked the firepower of their opponents, the Bulldogs were able to keep themselves in the game for the first 40 minutes, trailing 2-0 through goals from Ben Elliott and Josh Hartley before Dan Johns fired a rasper through traffic to halve the deficit at 17.04. 

Rocky Jenkinson restored the two-goal advantage for the Knights 36.11 but the teams were to go in all-square at the second intermission after the Bulldogs replied with two goals in as many minutes. 

Charlie Farrow was first to strike when he drove down the right before unleashing a fierce shot which beat Harrison McCourt from the top of the right circle.

GOAL-GLUT: Charlie Farrow scored three goals and an assists across the two games he played for Bulldogs’ Under-16s and Under-18s - agaisnt Sheffield and Leeds respectively. Picture courtesy of Mark Ferris.

Then, with just 59 seconds of the period remaining, Daragh Spawforth found the top left-hand corner of the Knights net from distance. 

Leeds made their superiority count eventually in the third, scoring three goals in quick succession, Jonas Bennett getting his team ahead again at 44.45 before a second from Jenkinson and a strike from Sam McIntyre at 47.54 to make it 6-3. 

The Bulldogs gave themselves a glimmer of hope when Farrow - who picked up the Dogs’ MVP award - swivelled and fired home low for his second of the night at 56.16 but Jake Wigginton was quick to respond 55 seconds later to ensure there was no late comeback. 

Sheffield IHA v Bulldogs Under-14s

Saturday saw three of the Bulldogs’ teams in action, with the Under-14s first up at Ice Sheffield against Sheffield IHA.

It was tough going for the visitors who found themselves 5-0 down through strikes from Sheffield’s Teddy Hancock, Zach Fairweather, Bradley Law, Daniel Grzesiakowski and Ethan Widdowson.

Ollie Brown made it 6-0 just 41 seconds into the second period before the hosts closed out the win with further goals from Louis Oates, Alfie White, Brandon Lake and Elliot Oades before Hancock and Brown doubled their tallies. 

Josh Windass picked up the Bulldogs’ Spirit of the Game award, while Harley Lucas donned the Hardest Worker ‘Digger’ Helmet.

Sheffield v Bulldogs - U-16s

The Under-16s took to the ice soon after against their Sheffield counterparts and played their part in an entertaining, competitive game. 

EDGED OUT: Bulldogs Under-16s came off second-best against Sheffield, going down 4-2.

It was the Bulldogs who took the lead through Charlie Farrow in the 11th minute, a lead they held until the second period when the hosts leveled through Tyler Price. 

Thomas Lee finished off a well-worked move to restore the Bulldogs’ lead at 21.15 but it was the hosts who went into the third period ahead through a George Horne double. 

The Bulldogs pushed hard for an equaliser but they were caught out at the other end when Lewis Ball gave the hosts some breathing room when making it 4-2 on the power play at 43.23.

Bulldogs Under-10s

The Under-10s headed to Sutton’s Lammas Leisure Centre for their latest X-ice tournament, where they took on regular round-robin opponents, Sutton Sting, Sheffield and Nottingham. 

Zach Mayoh was on target for the Bulldogs in their opening game which saw them go down 4-1 to Sheffield. 

The next game, against the hosts, brought a 7-5 win with guest player George Fuse - from Nottingham - leading the way with a hat-trick, with Oliver Toney, Conor Donaghey, Zach Mayoh and Teddy Barnett also finding the net, with assists going to Robson Bagott, Teddy Holland, Toney and Donaghey. 

A seven-goal thriller against Nottingham was the last of the action for the Bulldogs, who just came off second-best, with Finley Mardell, Fuse and Anie Evans all scoring, assists going to George Clarke and Bagott. 

Arnie Evans scooped the Bulldogs’ Spirit of the Game award.