Bulldogs looking to end 2025 on high note
LOOKING UP: Bradford Bulldogs’ player-coach, Dave Williams. Picture: Jason Devanney/View From Up Here.
BRADFORD BULLDOGS' player-coach Dave Williams is hoping his team can finish a tough 2025 on a high when they head to Billingham Buccaneers on Sunday.
It is the second visit of the month to Durham for the Bulldogs, who came off second-best at Billingham Forum on December 7 when they were beaten 7-1.
But there were enough encouraging signs in the final 20 minutes of that game to give Williams encouragement ahead of the return visit and, hopefully, for January onwards.
The Bulldogs sit in the eighth and final play-off place and will have a chance to put further distance between themselves and Nottingham Lions 2 when the two meet at the National Ice Centre on January 4.
This weekend, the Bulldogs will be without long-serving forward Connor Medley who has moved to second-placed Sutton Sting. The 32-year-old came through the junior ranks at the club, going on to play for the seniors before retiring at the end of 2023-24, only to be persuaded to come out of retirement in September.
MOVING ON: Bulldogs’ forward Connor Medley has made the move to NIHL North Two rivals Sutton Sting. Picture: Andy Bouke/Podium Prints.
Williams, who is hoping to announce a new signing before the end of the year, admitted it had been a tough start to the season but he had confidence in his players to turn things around in the second half of the campaign.
“We’ve got 10 games left now in the regular season and we have a chance to catch a number of the teams above us in the standings,” said Williams.
“We obviously want to finish as high as possible to give us a more favourable draw come the play-offs.
“There have been some tough times this season but we have had moments where we have been really dominant in games - it’s about doing that more consistently.
“Billingham are a top three side and we saw why in the first two periods the last time we were up there. But we improved as the game went on and I’m hoping to push them closer this time around.”
The Bulldogs’ campaign has been hit by injuries throughout, but Williams will start to see a number of players return in the coming weeks, with the Christmas and New Year break offering extra time for recovery.
“It’s been tough at times in terms of the number of players we have had available,” he added. “But we’ve battled through it well and I can’t fault anyone’s commitment.
“I know we’re better than where our current league position shows and I believe we can show that in the games we have left.”