Bulldogs Under-18s frustrated by Coventry Blaze once again
IT was to prove another day of frustration for Bradford Bulldogs Under-18s as they fell to a third defeat of the season against Coventry Blaze.
The two previous encounters had been close-fought affairs with the Blaze emerging 6-4 and 6-5 winners and they were to come out on top again with a 7-3 win at Bradford Ice Arena on Sunday.
The visitors got themselves 2-0 ahead inside 10 minutes, going ahead through Peyton Fincher’s sixth-minute strike before Sam Knarl doubled the advantage with a shorthanded strike at 9.58.
Just over three minutes into the second, Coventry went 3-0 ahead through Arran Buxley before Knarl’s second of the night quickly followed less than a minute later at 24.16.
Bulldogs had created plenty of chances themselves and eventually got on the board when Daragh Spawforth struck at 30.32, the assists going to Brett Harper and Harrison Booth.
But Coventry quickly restored their four-goal advantage when Artur Koruv beat Callum Preston at 32.25, although the Bulldogs gave themselves a boost before the second period break when Tom Mardell made it 5-2 in the 38th minute.
But hopes of a comeback were effectively put to bed when Koruv doubled his tally for the night at 48.14.
And although Spawforth matched that effort with another strike for the hosts just over two minutes later at 50.50, Blaze’s Knarl completed a memorable performance with his hat-trick strike with just over three minutes remaining.
The Under-18s have one last chance to set the record straight against the Blaze when they head to the Skydome Arena on Sunday for a fourth and final meeting of the season between the two teams.