Mixed fortunes for Bulldogs on opening weekend of 2024

STAR PERFORMERS: Jake Lowndes (centre) made 50 saves in the 3-0 home defeat to Coventry, while Connor Medley (left) scored four and Josh Stockton three in the 8-5 win at Kingston the day before.

INJURIES bit early in the New Year for Bradford Bulldogs as they enjoyed mixed fortunes on their opening weekend of action in 2024.

Andy Brown’s team made hard work of starting January off with a win, surrendering a 4-1 lead to go behind to hosts Kingston Sharks before producing a third period comeback to run out 8-5 winners.

But they were a couple of bodies light for the following day’s home game against third-placed Coventry NIHL Blaze, with leading goalscorer Josh Stockton and fellow forward Mikey Speare both ruled out, joining Jack Wooding on the sidelines, with the 19-year-old centre ruled out for the season with a knee injury.

The Bulldogs found chances hard to come by against the Blaze - limited to 11 shots on goal in total - and went down 3-0, with netminder Jake Lowndes impressing for the home team when turning away all but three of the 53 shots on his net.

The split weekend leaves them sitting comfortably in seventh place, with the win at Kingston strengthening their claims of a play-off spot. 

“It was good to start the new year with a win,” said head coach Brown. “We dominated the first period at Kingston but, as with many other games this season, we allowed the other team back in during the second period. 

“We even went behind early in the third, but we dug deep and got the job done. It was a big win for us.”

In Hull, the Bulldogs were good value for their 3-0 first period lead through a Josh Stockton double and a 19th-minute strike from Connor Medley. 

But the second period saw a swing in momentum as the Sharks hauled themselves back in the game, the visitors only going in level at 4-4 thanks to a 37th-minute strike from Medley.

Chris Hogarth put the hosts ahead for the first time early in the third to complete the turnaround, but the Bulldogs rallied, drawing level through Medley’s hat-trick strike at 41.53 before Stockton restored his team’s advantage on the power play with his third of the game just under two minutes later to make it 6-5. 

Medley made the most of another power play opportunity to increase the lead in the 58th minute before the impressive Rhys Edwards added a deserved goal to his seven assists when he made sure of the points at 58.17.

The following day, an under-strength Bulldogs found it hard going against a Blaze team determined to strengthen their grip on a top-three finish this season. 

The visitors went ahead through Connor Wheeldon after just 73 seconds but found Lowndes in solid form between the pipes, the lead not being doubled until the 17th minute through Oliver Dixon.

The Bulldogs goalie turned away all 18 shots in the second to keep his team in the game, but was powerless to stop Coventry sealing the points with a third goal in the 44th minute through Wheeldon’s second of the game.

“Unfortunately we picked up a few more injuries in Hull which meant we were without several key players against Coventry and it showed,” added Brown. 

“While Jake managed to keep the scoreline down, we never really looked like scoring so a 3-0 defeat probably flattered us somewhat.”