Captain Paul Lane looking for Bulldogs to ‘step it up’

WORK TO DO: Bulldogs’ captain Paul Lane, pictured in action during last week’s defeat to Sheffield Scimitars 2. Picture: Jason Devanney/View From Up Here Photography.

PAUL LANE said Bradford Bulldogs had lessons to learn in order to bounce back from two heavy home defeats. 

For the second week running at The Pound, the Bulldogs suffered at the hands of a team at the top end of the NIHL North Two table, going down 9-2 to Sheffield Scimitars 2. 

That came on the back of a 9-4 defeat on home ice to unbeaten leaders and defending league champions, Sutton Sting. 

With the Scimitars in second place and only one defeat to their name, it already looks that the same two teams will again be fighting it out for top spot again in 2026-27, the Sting finishing five points clear of their nearest rivals in the regular season stadings last season.

For the Bulldogs - who have a weekend off - it was a third straight defeat, their only win coming on the opening night of the season when they beat Kingston Sharks 7-4. 

Bulldogs captain and centreman Lane said the intention was to look at the mistakes that were costing the team so dearly in order to avoid a repeat when they return to action at home to Widnes Wild 2 on Sunday, October 11 (face-off 5.30pm).

“We did have some good spells against Sheffield, a few good, opportune moments to score, but we didn't make the most of them, really,” said Lane. “It was very frustrating.
“I'm hoping it's given us the wake-up call we need moving on for the rest of the season. 

“This kick up the backside should help us move into another gear for the next set of games that we’ve got coming up. 

“We’ve got a lot to work on, but we've learnt a lot from these last two games and we'll step it up from here.”