Bulldogs’ Junior Review: Under-16s, Under-14s and Under-12s
EDGED IT: Bulldogs Under-14s celebrate their 3-2 win over Sheffield after a hard-fought game against their Yorkshire rivals. Picture: Alien Aerial Photography
TWO Yorkshire derbies, two different outcomes. That was the story on Saturday as Bradford Bulldogs took on Sheffield IHA at ‘The Pound’ in an Under-12s and Under-14s double-header.
The Under-12s found it tough going out on the ice first and found themselves 3-0 down inside four minutes through strikes from Jenson Dunwell, Rory Hill and Zach Fairweather.
Damiel Yilmaz was next to beat Jacob Shaw in the Bulldogs’ goal, making it 4-0 with 5.31 on the clock before a double strike from Ronnie White increased the visitors’ advantage.
Hill doubled his own tally to make it 7-0 in the 13th minute, before Fairweather also made it two for the game when he added an eighth to invoke the mercy rule at 12.41.
BACK OF THE NET: Bulldogs Under14s celebrate one of Charlie Farrow’s three goals. Picture: Alien Aerial Photography
Soon after the Under-14s took to the ice and it was the hosts who broke the deadlock through a Charlie Farrow power play strike at 7.48.
That was how it stayed until the first intermission after which it didn’t take the visitors long to get back on level terms when Rory Hill beat Jacob Mardell on the power play at 19.39.
Sheffield had the greater number of chances but it was the Bulldogs who struck next, Farrow doubling his tally to restore his team’s one-goal lead at 25.41.
Sheffield got off to the best possible start in the third period when they took just 44 seconds to get back on level terms for a second time, Hill finding his range again on the man advantage.
In such a tight game, the next goal was always going to be crucial and it went the way of the hosts, with Farrow making it a game to remember when he sealed his hat-trick and - ultimately - both points when he beat Jacoby Robinson at 36.54.
On Sunday, it was the turn of the Under-16s, who headed across the Pennines to take on unbeaten leaders Manchester Storm Academy.
It proved to be another tough day for the Bulldogs’ youngsters, with a dominant Manchester side repeating the 12-0 triumph they enjoyed in Bradford back in November.
The game was effectively over as a contest by the time the first intermission arrived after goals from Alfie Seddon (2), Rafferty Smith, Heath Langlois, Daniel Fadejevs and Theo Malone put the hosts 6-0 ahead.
Out-classed and out-fought, the Bulldogs’ struggles continued in the second when they fell further behind through strikes from Charlie Hargrove and Bailey Thomas.
Just 32 seconds into the third, Kane Morin made it 9-0 and, after seeing Malone score his second at 35.53 did the same himself 67 seconds later before Thomas did likewise to make it 12-0 at 41.07.
This weekend’s fixtures:
Saturday, February 24 - Under-14s: Sheffield IHA v Bulldogs (12.45pm, Ice Sheffield)
Sunday, February 25 - Under-18s: Bulldogs v Manchester (5pm, Bradford Ice Arena).