Bulldogs’ Junior Review - Rounding up the action involving Under-18s, 16s, 12s and 10s

THOU SHALT NOT PASS: Well, almost - Bulldogs’ Under-16s netminder Jacob Mardell saved 74 of the 81 shots on his net in the 7-2 loss at leeds. Picture courtesy of Mark Ferriss/All Sports Photography

IT proved a tough weekend on the ice for Bradford Bulldogs junior teams, but there were still plenty of standout moments and performances to be found.

It was the Under-16s who got the ball rolling in Leeds, producing a dogged performance throughout before losing out 7-2. 

They found themselves 3-0 down after the first 20, the deadlock broken by Jonas Bennett at 13.38 before he added a second just over four minutes later before Matiss Magone increased the lead at 18.51. 

That was how it stayed until the 27th minute when Danny Harrison weaved his way to the front of the net and back-handed the puck over Jacob Midgley to give the Bulldogs some hope. 

But they were to go in at the second intermission trailing by four after Tyler Keller (27.15) and Frank O’Sullivan (36.58) both pounced on rebounds close in to beat Jacob Mardell, who again shone throughout for the Bulldogs when saving 74 of the 81 shots on his goal, earning him the MVP.

Kieran Smith jammed the puck home to make it 6-1 at 52.49 before Jake Wigginton diverted a pass from Josh Hartley past Mardell from in front just under three minutes later to make it 7-1 to the hosts.

ON TARGET: Danny Harrison bagged three goals in the games against Leeds Under-16s and Under-18s. Picture courtesy of Mark Ferriss/All Sports Photography.

There was time for a deserved consolation for the Bulldogs, though, Daragh Spawforth receiving the pass from Mardell before driving down centre ice and firing one home low to Harrison McCourt’s left side. 

Bulldogs Under-18s took to the ice later in the evening and, after 20 minutes, an evenly-contested encounter was in place, the visitors trailing 4-2. 

But they found themselves 8-3 adrift after the middle section, before the hosts cut loose in the third to run out comfortable 15-3 winners. 

Having fallen behind to Edgars Vengis and O’Sullivan, the Dogs halved the deficit with a well-worked goal between Harrison and Rhys Edwards, which saw Spawforth fire past Oliver Booth at 10.23.

Lawrence Dean and Magone extended the hosts’ advantage within a minute of each other but there was all to play for after Harrison took a smart pass from Edwards in the left circle and beat Booth low down to his right at 18.57. 

In the second, strikes from O’Sullivan, Magone and Rocco Mallon saw the Knights pull away, pegged back slightly by a breakaway goal from harrison which saw him go five-hole on Booth at 35.57 before Vengis got his second of the game just under a minute later to make it 8-3.

In the third, the Bulldogs were no match for their hosts, Noah Percival before Mallon, Hartley and O’Sullivan - his hat-trick marker - took the score to 12-3 with more than 10 minutes remaining. 

Magone sealed his hat-trick at 58.35 before Wigginton and O’Sullivan rounded off the scoring. 

Bulldogs Under-12s found it tough going at Nottingham on Sunday, but made their hosts work hard for their 8-0 win.

Freddie Donald and Olly Urbacz-Dawson put Nottingham into a strong position before further first period goals came from Seth Brown and Lawrence Newman. 

LEADERS: Jacob Shaw picked up the Spirit of the Game award for the Under-12s in Nottingham, while Alfie McAlinden (right) took the Top Digger helmet.

Donald doubled his tally after the break Jamie Oliphant, Ronnie Hought and Max Wightman also finding a way to beat Jacob Shaw in the Bulldogs’ net.

Jacob picked up the Spirit of the Game award, while Alfie McAlinden took the Top Digger helmet.

Bulldogs Under-10s enjoyed some success at Sutton in the latest X-ice tournament featuring the hosts, Nottingham and Sheffield. 

After a 5-0 loss against a strong Sheffield team, Bradford hit back with a 3-1 win over Sutton, the goals coming from Oliver Toney and Colt Griffiths (2). 

The third and final game saw them go down 2-0 to a Nottingham Mixed team. Oliver Toney was handed Spirit of the Game award after scoring his first competitive goal of the season.

Afterwards, team manager Aimee Clarke, said: “I like to make a special mention to our netminder Oliver Hill who had 87 shots on goal and conceded eight in total after two disallowed efforts, a cracking 92 per cent save rate. 

“The recent netminding coaching sessions at Bradford that Oliver has taken part in have made a massive difference and it showed at Sutton.”