You win some, you lose some - ups and downs for Bradford Bulldogs 14s and 16s

GOAL-DEN MOMENTS: Danny Harrison was in amongst the goals for both Bulldogs' 14s and 16s this weekend. Picture by Andy Bourke/Podium Prints.

THERE were mixed fortunes for Bradford Bulldogs when their Under-14s and Under-16s took to the ice at the weekend.

The Under-14s ensured kept alive their hopes of a second-placed finish in Division One North when they came away from their first trip to Solihull Juniors with a 13-5 win. 

Meanwhile, the Under-16s ran out of team in their derby date at Leeds Knights Juniors, who deservedly prevailed 7-3.

In Solihull, a strong first period put the visitors in control as they went in 6-0 ahead. Frank O’Sullivan was first on the board after just 40 seconds, before helping set up Danny Harrison for his first of the night at 2.29.

Harrison then fired three quickfire goals in the space of 46 seconds, the last one beating netminder Danny Kolisek at 9.48 to make it 5-0, before Will Durgan added a sixth just over four minutes later.

Two more goals came in the second period - one apiece for Harrison and O’Sullivan - before Solihull hit back somewhat in the third, getting on the board through Ollie Bruce just 10 seconds into the third before Tommy Kolisek made it 8-2 with a shorthanded strike at 35.19.

Durgan and Harrison then traded goals with Solihull’s Alfie Newell and Oscar Lee before Bruce registered his second of the game to make it 10-5.

FRANKLY SPEAKING: Frank O'Sullivan bagged four goals in the Bulldogs' Under-14s 13-5 win at Solihull. Picture: Andy Bourke

But the Bulldogs finished strongly, with Harrison and then two more from O’Sullivan completing the scoring.

The following day at Elland Road Ice Arena, the Under-16s Division One game was delicately poised after 40 minutes, with the hosts leading 4-2.

But two goals in four third period minutes put the game beyond the visitors as, overall, Leeds proved the more clinical in front of goal.

The Knights enjoyed a 2-0 lead at the first break thanks to Rocco Mallon’s opener at 9.59 and a deflected effort from Josh Hartley.

Danny Harrison got the Bulldogs back in the game when he fired home on the power play just over two minutes into the second, but two goals in 11 seconds from Edgars Vengis - the first at 20.15, the second taking a wicked deflection off a Bradford player's skate - allowed Leeds to pull clear again.

Harrison made it 4-2 on a breakaway at 27.05 to give the Bulldogs hope going into the third but, crucially, the next goal came at the other end when Jonas Bennett’s power play marker deflected in.

Although Daragh Spawforth gave the Bulldogs hope with a fierce long-range effort at 37.27 that was as close as they got, Leeds finishing off the game with further strikes from Meeyah Forbes and Jake Wigginton.