Bulldogs juniors return to action for 2023 with mixed fortunes

ON THE MARK: Will Durgan (left), Danny Harrison and Frank O’Sullivan were among the goals on a mixed weekend for the Under-14s.

BRADFORD BULLDOGS enjoyed mixed fortunes on their return to action for 2023, settling for a win and a loss in Under-14 Division One North.

Saturday saw the Bulldogs play host to Solihull Junior Barons, the tone for the game being set early on when they raced into 5-0 lead insie eigh minutes through two goals apiece for Will Durgan and Phil Harrison and one from Frank O’Sullivan.

Matthew Peckett got the visitors on the board at 8.18 only for Harrison’s hat-trick marker to restore the five-goal lead at 12.03.

Riley Hubbuck made it 6-2 at 21.15 but three goals in as many minutes - Durgan’s hat-trick strike along with two more for Harrison - ensured the Bulldogs remained in control by the time the second intermission came around.

The third period produced more of the same, with Harrison and Durgan both adding two more to their respective hauls, while O’Sullivan got in on the act once again as the Bulldogs ran out 14-2 winners.

It was a different story just under 24 hours later, however, when the Bulldogs hit the road for Altrincham to take on Manchester Storm.

After a tight opening few minutes, Theo Malone broke the deadlock at 7.04 to put the home side ahead, before a terrific solo effort from O’Sullivan drew the visitors level just over four minutes later.

Only 20 seconds of the second period had elapsed before Manchester got themselves ahead again, Heath Langlois’ effort sneaking in at the far post.

The Storm doubled their lead just under five minutes later through Austyn Tomlinson, but were pegged back quickly when Durgan fired a reply at 22.07. 

In a game where there was little to choose between both sides, they tradedgoals quickly a short while later, Malone’s power play marker at 26.17 being cancelled out by O’Sullivan’s second of the game just 33 seconds later.

There was all to play for heading into the third but, crucially for the hosts, it was they who got the next goal, Mario Vakmansky beating Jacob Mardell at 34.55, the Bulldogs unable to find a way past Owen Severn again.

Bulldogs Under-12s were also in action at the weekend and were still in contention after two operiods of their local derby at Leeds Knights Juniors.

After Kyle Bower struck at 10.34 to cancel out Oban Donaldson’s opener, but the hosts were 3-1 ahead at the first break thanks to further strikes from Evie Hardy and Leo Vengis.

Jacob Brookes made it 4-1 before Thomas Lee replied for the visitors at 28.23, the three-goal lead being quickly restored by Zack Harling just over a minute later and then extended to 6-2 by a second from Vengis.

It was in the opening few minutes of the third period, however, where the game was truly won and lost, Leeds forging ahead 9-2 after goals from Brookes and Christian Roth double.

Bower got his second of the game at 38.00, only for Anrijs Mikelsons to quickly reply, with Lee also making it two for the night at 41.20, the hosts having the last say when Mikelsons made it 11-4 with his second of the game.

The Bulldogs Under-10s also returned to action on Saturday, heading over to Widnes to face-off against the hosts, Manchester and Blackburn in a series of cross-ice games.

A win, a draw and a loss later, it was Stevie Abdy (pictured above) who won the Bulldogs’ Spirit of the Game award.