Weekend Review: Bulldogs’ juniors find it tough going

GOAL-HUNGRY: Daragh Spawforth had his sights set correctly at the weekend, following up a hat-trick in the 9-4 defeat for the Under-18s at Billingham with a two-goal haul in the Under-16s’ 8-3 loss at Manchester Storm on Sunday. Picture: Andy Bourke/Podium Prints.

IT proved to a tough weekend for Bradford Bulldogs’ junior teams, unable to muster a win from the handful of games they were involved in.

The Under-16s were the busiest of the bunch, facing off on home ice to Leeds Junior Knights before making the short trip across the Pennines to take on Manchester.

It proved a tough derby duel with Leeds, however, the Bulldogs finding themselves 2-0 down after just 46 seconds through strikes from Rocco Mallon and Grace Cooper.

By the time the first period break arrived, the Bulldogs were four adrift, Evan Bradon firing past Justin Soctt Davies from the left circle at 4.28 before Jake Wigginton showed neat hands to slot home in the 13th minute.

Ben Elliott (2) and then Jonas Bennett got in on the act for an impressive Leeds as they scored three more in four minutes to lead 7-0 by the halfway point.

The Bulldogs finally got on the board following a swift-three-man breakout which saw Frank O’Sullivan and Will Durgan combine to feed Danny Harrison to fire home from the right circle at 25.26.

Laurence Dean struck at 28.57, however, to ensure the Knights’ went in at the second break with their seven-goal lead restored.

Mallon and then Oliver Gotts completed the scoring in the third for a comfortable win for the visitors.

GO-AHEAD GOAL: Matthew Cross’s 15th-minute strike put Bulldogs Under-18s ahead at Billingham, but they ultimately fell to a 9-4 defeat. Picture: Andy Bourke/Podium Prints.

On Sunday at Planet Ice Altrincham, the conceding of another early goal - this time after 20 seconds by Leo Cooper - ensured the Bulldogs were chasing the game once again, finding themselves 3-0 by the first break thanks to further strikes from Daniel Fadejevs and Sebastian Vasinc.

Will Durgan forced the puck home from behind the net at 22.30 to get the Bulldogs in the game but they were quickly three down again when doubled his tally just 23 seconds later.

The lead increased to 5-1 through Theo Malone just under five minutes later, but the Bulldogs ensured they remained in the game when Spawforth collected a pass from Harrison on the halfway line before breaking clear and neatly beating Jace Gledhill with 14 seconds remaining in the period remaining.

A power play strike from Bailey Thomas just over four minutes into the third made it 6-2, before the Bulldogs made their own man-advantage count 37.00 when Spawforth converted from a Harrison feed.

But as the Bulldogs pushed hard to reduce the deficit further, further strikes from Cooper - sealing a hat-trick - and Vasinc ensured a comfortable 8-3 win for the hosts.

Bulldogs’ Under-18s made the early running in Billingham on Saturday having found themselves 1-0 down after just 24 seconds through a strike from Lucas Dowdle.

Spawforth levelled within two minutes for the visitors, who went into the break ahead thanks to a 15th-minute strike from Matthew Cross.

But Tom Wakefield wasted no time in hauling the hosts level just 25 seconds into the second, before Lucas Campion and then Ben Greenhalgh helped them establish a 4-2 lead with just over 25 minutes gone.

A second from Spawforth at 32.55 made it a one-goal game again only for the Stars to pull clear just over three minutes later through a second goal from Dowdle.

Spawforth’s hat-trick marker at 42.55 pulled the Bulldogs back to within one again and the short-benched visitors will still have fancied their chances of taking something from the game despite Tommy Spraggon restoring the two-goal cushion at 44.44.

But as the game entered the final 10 minutes, the Stars' greater numbers began to bear fruit, Dowdle sealing his hat-trick at 51.20 before Wakefield and Greenhalgh secured a 9-4 victory.

Elsewhere, the Under-12s took part in a challenge game at Widnes Wild Academy, while the Under-10s hosted a four-team, cross-ice jamboree at Bradford with Manchester, Blackburn and Widnes the visitors.

SPIRIT OF THE GAME: Finley Mardell earned himself the ‘Spirit of the Game’ award at Saturday’s cross-ice jamboree held at Bradford Ice Arena.

There were four ‘Spirit of the Game’ awards handed out - one for each team - with Finley Mardell earning the Bulldogs’ medal.