Bulldogs Junior Review: Under-16s and Under-10s reports and pictures
ON TARGET: Bulldogs Under-16s celebrate scoring during their 3-2 win over Telford Tigers Juniors at The Pound on Saturday. Picture: Andy Bourke/Podium Prints.
BRADFORD BULLDOGS produced a stirring comeback to exact revenge on Under-16 Division One rivals Telford Tigers with a 3-2 victory.
In a competitive and entertaining game, captain Danny Harrison led from the front with a hat-trick of goals, while netminder Jacob Mardell - back from injury - impressed between the pipes by turning away 22 of the 24 shots on his net.
But there were plenty of other contributions, too, as the Bulldogs produced a hard-working, team performance to pick up their second win of the 2024-25 campaign and even the score after a 3-1 defeat in Telford last month.
To do it, though, they had to twice come from behind, falling behind with just 5.56 gone when Archie Hollyhead pounced on a rebound after Mardell had saved Alfie Newnes’ initial shot.
BOARD WALK: Bulldogs’ Dominic Wright and Thomas Taylor battle on the boards for posssession with a Telford opponent. Picture: Andy Bourke/Podium Prints.
It wasn’t long before the Bulldogs were level - even though they were short-handed - Harrison seizing a loose puck in the neutral zone before driving down the left and firing into the top right-hand corner from the left hash marks.
Another period brought another early goal for the opposition, however, when Hollyhead doubled his tally when left all alone in front of the net and found by a neat pass by Newnes to fire past a helpless Mardell and make it 2-1 on the power play at 15.32.
Just under 10 minutes later, the Bulldogs pulled level again, and again it came when they were short-handed, Harrison seizing on some loose play in the neutral zone, once more, and beating Alice Somerford on her right side again to make it 2-2 at 25.12.
Into the third period and it was the Bulldogs creating more scoring chances, the pressure paying off just under five minutes in, Harrison picking up a pass off the boards from Dominic Wright and driving towards net where he squeezed the puck through Somerford for what turned out to be the game-winning goal.
Under-10s X-ice jamboree at Bradford
Earlier in the day, the Under-10s hosted the latest X-ice jamboree with regular rivals Nottingham IHC, Sutton Sting IHA and Sheffield IHA.
In the fist game, the Bulldogs went down 7-1 to Nottingham with Robson Bagott getting the Bulldogs marker.
FANTASTIC FOUR: Bradford played host tom Sheffield, Nottingham and Sutton Under-10s.
The hosts followed that up with a stellar performance in their next game against Sutton as they ran out 6-4 victors thanks to hat-tricks from Teddy Barnett - who picked up the Bulldogs’ MVP - and goal machine Bagott, with assists going to Oliver Toney, Arnie Evans, Zach Mayoh and Finley Mardell.
In the final game of the tournament, they came off second-best against an impressive Sheffield team, who enjoyed an 11-4 win.
Bulldogs’ goals came from a double apiece for Denis Sprogis and Henry Martin, with assists going to Sidney Spence-Cox and Arnie Evans.
GREAT DAY: Bulldogs’ Under-10s produced some terrific team performances at The Pound on Saturday.
Under-10s manager, Liz Bagott, said: “Overall it was another great day, with all the kids getting plenty of ice and having fun.
“There was some great teamwork out there from our Bulldogs and they keep getting better and better with each jamboree.”