Bulldogs Junior Review: Under-18s, Under-14s and Under-12s round-up

Bulldogs Under-18s found it tough going at Widnes on Saturday,

IT proved to be a tough weekend all round for our Bulldogs’ junior teams but - as ever - there were plenty of positives to take away at all three levels.

Bulldogs Under-18s were looking to bounce back from the 9-2 defeat on home ice from the previous week against Sheffield IHA when they headed over to Widnes Wild on Saturday evening.

And, after captain Danny Harrison put them ahead with a speculative long-range effort at 9.37, hopes were high.

But after finding themselves 2-1 down at the end of the first break - courtesy of strikes from Porter Harrop and Jared Knowles - they were always chasing the game.

In the end, Widnes’ skating and greater depth made the difference, their superiority rammed home particularly in the first 10 minutes of the second period when another goal apiece for Harrop and Knowles, plus a marker from former Bulldogs forward Brett Harper, put them 5-1 ahead.

Harrison gave the Bulldogs some hope when he pulled one back just after the halfway mark, while Tyler Hall went close on a couple of occasions.

But Widnes sealed the deal with third period efforts from Kier McPherson and Knowles, completing his hat-trick.

LEADERS OF THE PACK - Our Under-12 leadership team (from left): assistant captains, Alfie McAlinden, Jacob Shaw and Timur Sprogis, plus captain Bentley McEwan

The Under-14s and Under-12s were both at Leeds, with the younger Bulldogs taking to the ice first and playing their part in a competitive derby encounter.

It was nip and tuck in the first period, with a Samson Collins strike for the Bulldogs at 9.45 sandwiched by efforts for Leeds from Freddie Kingwell and Freddie Rule.

Rule’s second, in the 30th minute, proved crucial, giving the hosts some welcome space with his hat-trick marker arriving just over six minutes later.

As the Bulldogs chased the game, Kingwell doubled his tally in the 48th minute to secure a 5-1 victory for the Knights

The Under-14s found life difficult against their Leeds counterparts, however, and found themselves 9-0 down after the first period, the hosts recording another three goals in the second.

Christian Roth led the scoring for Leeds with four goals,