Bulldogs Junior Review: Busy weekend for youngsters
STANDOUTS (clockwise from bottom left): Charlie Farrow (U-18 Spirit of the Game v Telford), Jack Clarke (U-14 Spirit of the Game), Parker Livingstone (Under-12s ‘Digger’), Arnie Evans (Under-10s Spirit of the Game), Oscar Graham (Under-12s Spirit of the Game), Nathan Mitchell (Under-14s ‘Digger’) and Josh Guy (Under-18s Spirit of the Game v Leeds).
IT proved a busy week for Bradford Bulldogs Under-18s who took on two fixtures in four days which brought battling performances on each occasion.
While there were no points to be taken, there were positives from each performance in the 6-2 defeat at Telford Tigers which was followed by a midweek 8-1 defeat at home to Leeds Junior Knights.
Elsewhere, the Under-14s, Under-12s and Under-10s were also in action across the weekend.
Telford Tigers Juniors v Bulldogs Under-18s
After falling behind to a 12th-minute strike by Telford’s Josef Lauder, the Bulldogs were left facing an uphill battle when they fell further behind to strikes from Joe Everitt and Taylor Stanton before the halfway mark.
Hope arrived in the form of a Charlie Farrow goal at 30.12, only for Telford to pull further away by the second intermission through goals from Stanton - on the power play at 32.01 - and Archie Holyhead at 38.14.
The Bulldogs stayed in the game thanks to a second effort from Farrow - who also picked up the Spirit of the Game award - just over three minutes into the third, but Telford restored their four-goal cushion via a 50th-minute Alfie Newnes strike.
Bulldogs Under-18s v Leeds Junior Knights
On Wednesday, the first 10 minutes proved to be a competitive derby against Leeds, who led through a fifth-minute effort from Frank O’Sullivan.
The lead was doubled by Rocco Mallon at 10.42 before the visitors took control of the game through further first period strikes from Ilan Berman and Oliver Straw.
The Knights dominated the second period - out-shooting the hosts 26-5 - and enhanced their lead through a second of the night from Mallon at 31.45.
The Bulldogs improved in the third and eventually got on the board through a Daragh Spawforth strike at 49.36.
But that was cancelled by a second from O’Sullivan three minutes later with Straw doubling his tally just over a minute later and Jonas Bennett wrapping the scoring up with just under two minutes remaining, Josh Guy picking up the Bulldogs’ Spirit of the Game award.
Bulldogs Under-14s v Deeside Dragons Juniors
Bulldogs Under-14s wrapped up their 2024-25 campaign with a battling performance at home to Deeside Dragons Juniors, eventually falling to a 7-3 defeat.
It looked like the Bulldogs might take something out of the game when they battled back to tie the game at 3-3 with just over eight minutes left, only for the visitors to score four goals in the closing moments.
Trailing 1-0 at the first break to a third-minute strike from Jayden Turton, the Bulldogs fell further behind early in the second through a Harry Bunnell effort.
Thomas Lee halved the deficit at 22.55 but the Dragons were quick to restore their two-goal cushion inside the first minute of the third period through Leighton Williams.
A second for Lee in the 32nd minute made it a one-goal game again before Louis Brook levelled for the home side at 36.54.
Hopes of a home win were snatched away, however, when Deeside quickly got themselves ahead again through Gabriel Boydell-Jones.
As the Bulldogs pushed for a way back, further goals from Theo Yates, Jacob Foster and Boydell-Jones in the closing minutes put the game out of reach.
Bulldogs’ Spirit of the Game went to goalie Jack Clarke, while Nathan Mitchell was awarded the Hardest Worker ‘Digger’ helmet.
Bulldogs Under-12s v Sheffield IHA
Earlier in the afternoon, Bulldogs Under-12s were on the ice against a strong Sheffield IHA team.
It proved tough going from early on for the hosts, who eventually went down 8-0 despite a battling performance.
Goals for Sheffield came from Bradley Law (2), Wilf Newton (2), Cody Price (2), Chester Lowe and Jack Woodhead.
Bulldogs’ Spirit of the Game award went to Oscar Graham, while netminder Parker Livingstone donned the Hardest Worker ‘Digger’ helmet.
Bulldogs Under-10s at Ice Sheffield
On Sunday, the Under-10s headed down to Ice Sheffield to take part in the latest X-ice Jamboree with hosts Sheffield and regular opponents Sutton Sting Academy and Nottingham IHC.
In all, it was a six-team tournament, with two Sheffield teams (white and blue) and an All-Star team, along with Nottingham and Sutton.
As ever, there were lots of competitive games, the Bulldogs’ goals coming from Finley Mardell, Arnie Evans, Teddy Barnett and Denis Sprogis, with Arnie picking up the Spirit of the Game Award.