Weekend Review: Under-18s edged out as Under-14s secure top-four spot

GOAL-GETTERS: Mackenzie Barker (left) and Daragh Spawforth (right) were in the goals for the Under-18s, while Danny Harrison was on target for the Under-14s. Pics: Andy Bourke.

BRADFORD BULLDOGS Under-18s were involved in a 17-goal thriller at The Pound against Billingham Junior Stars - sadly coming off second best.

After a bight start which saw them go 3-0 up and then take a 4-2 lead into the second, a tough second period handed the initiative to a Billingham team shored up by guest players from other clubs. 

Trailing 7-5 going into the third, the Bulldogs hauled themselves level within two minutes of the restart, but ultimately lost out 10-7.

It was Mackenzie Barker who got the ball rolling by firing a hat-trick inside nine minutes - two of them while shorthanded - before Billingham hit back with two goals inside a minute from Liam Yarwood and Rocco Mallon.

A fourth from Barker - this time on the power play - doubled the hosts’ lead at 14.30 which is how it stayed until 40 seconds into the second when Ben Greenhalgh made it a one-goal game again.

Daragh Spawforth, in his first game back from injury, made it 5-3 at 23.25 but, therafter, the period belonged to the visitors, Mallon’s second coming at 28.14 before former Bulldogs’ forward Jake Wigginton levelled matters at 34.51.

Exactly a minute later, Greenhalgh’s second of the game put the visitors ahead for the first time with Tom Wakefield giving them a two-goal lead at 36.52.

But two goals from Spawforth within 17 seconds - both shorthanded - gave him his hat-trick and hauled the Bulldogs level inside two minutes of the third, only for a power play reply from Greenhalgh - his hat-trick goal - to put BIllingham ahead once more.

At 47.09 Lucas Campion doubled the Stars’ lead and, this time, there was no coming back for the hosts, Greenhalgh making sure of the points when netting a fourth for the evening at 51.19.

Harrison in seventh heaven as Under-14s seal top-four spot in style

IT was a better day for the Bulldogs’ Under-14s 24 hours or so earlier when a 13-1 win over Coventry Blaze IHA ensured a top-four finish in Division One North.

The Bulldogs now go forward into a new phase of the season in a group that consists of Leeds Knights Juniors, Manchester Storm and Nottingham, who finished the 14-game regular season, first, second and third respectively.

DOUBLE TROUBLE: Frank O’Sullivan (left) and Will Durgan both bagged a brace in the 13-1 win over Coventry Blaze on Saturday. Pics: Andy Bourke.

It’s believed the top two from this group will then go through to the annual Nationals at Ice Sheffield, the date for which is still to be finalised.

On the ice, the Bulldogs raced into a four-goal lead through a hat-trick from captain Danny Harrison and strike from Frank O’Sullivan.

A fourth for Harrison made it 5-0 at 10.29 before Coventry got on the board through a well-taken goal from Oliver Podgorski at 12.52.

The Bulldogs went into the first intermission on a high, though, when O’Sullivan made it 6-1 with 12 seconds of the period remaining.

Three more from Harrison in the first five minutes of the second period ensured there would be no comeback from the visitors, before Will Durgan got on the board to make it 10-1 at 24.10.

BANG: Josh Guy was celebrating after bagging his first goal of the season against Coventry Blaze IHA on Saturday.

Charlie Barker then benefitted from good work down low by Kieran Smith to fire home at 24.37. 

Durgan doubled his tally at 27.55 but the biggest cheer came at 40.15 when defenceman Josh Guy burst through to fire into the roof of the net for his first goal of the season.