Bulldogs Junior Review: Under-14s and Under-12s in Whitley Bay

IT was a long haul for Bradford Bulldogs’ Under-14s and Under-12 as they both made the long trip north to Whitley Bay on Sunday. 

And even though they each came back down the A1 on the end of a defeat, there was still plenty of invaluable experience and ice time had by the players. 

The Under-14s were first on the ice around midday and, after a solid enough start, quickly found themselves up against it when they conceded three goals in as many minutes from the sticks of Stuart Hall, Archie Campbell and Nathan Hartley.

The visitors found themselves 6-0 down after 27 minutes through strikes from Hartley, Harry Appleby and Ferris Groot.

Thomas Lee then got the Bulldogs on the board when he fired home 28.21, but the third period was where the game got away from the Bulldogs. 

Hartley added four more to take his tally to six, while Denys Miniallo and Hall, with his second, wrapped up a comfortable 12-1 victory for the hosts, with Bulldogs’ netminder deservedly picking up the Spirit of the Game award.

Later in the day, Bulldogs Under-12s battled hard against their Whitley counterparts and, thanks to a 12th-minute strike from Evan Bulmer were tied at 1-1 at the first break. 

Whitley took control of the game in the second period, however, forging 5-1 ahead and adding another early in the third before Robson Bagott popped up to make it a 6-2 game and offer the visitors hope of a comeback with 12 minutes still remaining. 

But Whitley were quick to respond and scored four further goals to secure a 10-2 win.