Bulldogs preparing for toughest test against Sutton Sting and NIHL Blaze

TOUGH TEST: Bulldogs’ head coach, Andy Brown. Picture: Alien Aerial Photography.

ANDY BROWN expects his Bradford Bulldogs team to face their most serious test of the season yet this weekend when they take on two opponents who share similar NIHL North Two play-off ambitions to their own.

The Bulldogs head to second-placed Coventry Blaze NIHL on Saturday night before returning home to host unbeaten leaders Sutton Sting.

Both teams harbour ambitions of making the post-season and have made impressive starts to the 2023-24 campaign, much like Bradford who made it two wins from two with a 6-3 home win over Nottingham Lions 2 last Sunday.

While rightly pleased with the win against the Lions, head coach Brown is looking for significant improvement over the two games this weekend - something he knows will be needed to compete with two strong opponents.

“It's going to be a much tougher ask this weekend, Coventry and Sutton are two top teams and, like us, will both be looking for a top four finish,” said Brown

“So we need to be considerably better than we were against Nottingham. That's why I was disappointed with that game because it was about making sure we were well prepared for this back-to-back weekend and I don't feel we got as much out of the Nottingham game as we should have done.

“But we had a good practice in midweek and we’re well prepared. Coventry away is always a tough trip, you've got to get rid of the travel legs as quickly as possible and they always bring a good game, always have a strong squad.

“Sutton look like they've put together another strong team this year so, back at our place, we're going to have to be on top form.” 

Coventry’s only defeat of the season came against Sutton when they went down 6-4 at Ice Sheffield on September 16. 

The Sting will arrive at Little Horton Lane on Sunday on the back of six straight wins, the latest being a 7-1 home triumph over Kingston Sharks.

Against the Lions last Sunday, Josh Stockton led the way for the Bulldogs with a hat-trick, while Lucas Vince scored twice, adding to the hat-trick he scored in the opening night win against Kingston. 

Tom Mardell also got on the scoresheet and Sam Bolwell was solid in net when turning away 35 of the 38 shots on her net, but Brown was left frustrated at the final buzzer.

“No disrespect to Nottingham, they came and worked hard for 60 minutes and we didn't,” added Brown. “That was something I asked for from the team before the game and I didn't get that.

“We didn't play our best hockey and to only win the one period of three periods was disappointing. But, right now, we're building and we'll take the points but going forward, we need to be better.”