Bulldogs’ losing streak extended as Buccaneers put them to the sword

NOT TO BE: The Bulldogs saw their losing streak extended with a home loss against Billingham Buccaneers.

THE NIHL North Two woes continued for Bradford Bulldogs who saw their losing streak extended to eight games with a 7-2 reverse at home to league newcomers Billingham Buccaneers.

While the Bulldogs had enjoyed a positive start to the 2023-24 campaign with two wins, the newly-formed Buccaneers had a tough start as they lost four out of their first five games.

But they came into Bradford Ice Arena in a rich vein of form which had seen them turn their season around with four straight wins and deservedly extended that run to five.

“It’s another disappointing result but again, we didn’t match our opponents work rate, so we didn’t deserve to take the points,” said Bulldogs’ head coach Andy Brown. “We need to find more gears to go through, as right now we’re just not competitive.”

The initial damage was done in the first period when the visitors’ special teams combined to put them 3-0 ahead. 

Their opener came at 7.37 on the power play from Lucas Dowdle before a second strike on the man advantage - this time from Ross Hanlon - followed just over four minutes later. 

A power play for the Bulldogs failed to produce the same result, however, and they found themselves cast further adrift when Dowdle grabbed a second with a 14th-minute short-handed marker. 

But hope arrived for the hosts with two goals in the space of a minute before the first intermission, Declan Kime getting on the board at 16.13 before Josh Stockton beat Jacob Hammond 52 seconds later. 

Any momentum the Bulldogs had going into the second period was quickly lost, however, when a second goal for Ross Hanlon made it 4-2 to Billingham just 47 seconds in.

A power play strike from Anthony Price restored the visitors’ three-goal advantage at 28.26 before the Bulldogs’ task was made even harder when former former team-mate Josh Reynolds made it 6-2 when beating Jake Lowndes at 32.10.

Bulldogs’ Under-18s goalie Jack Mickevicius went between the pipes for the last 20 minutes and while he was beaten early on by a Rowan Mills strike, the visitors could not muster any more goals, seeing out the game and preventing their hosts from reducing the deficit further for a deserved win. 

The Bulldogs are back in action this weekend when they play host to Telford Tigers, the division’s only unbeaten team. 

Doors open 4.45pm and face-off is at 5.30pm. 

Tickets available on the door, priced as follows: Adults: £5; U-16s/concessions: £2.50; KIDS (U-12s) FOR A QUID; Family of Four: £12