MATCH REPORT: A&T missing top end as they lose out to Stars

Astley & Tyldesley entertained Sheffield in a Northern League fixture, at Gin Pit on Sunday.

In the Division 1 match, A&T took the lead with a 6-3 heat win in heat 1 and held this until heat 5. However, a fall by the returning Luke Jamson in heat 5 and a shed chain by Reece Pollitt whilst leading heat 6, saw the visitors move into a 6 points lead, which they never lost.

Jamson won three races on his return to the team, with Pollitt unbeaten in his other four races.

The rest of a young A&T side battled hard, but went down to a solid scoring Sheffield team, 80-66. Kyle Holland top scored for the visitors, with Sam Haines unbeaten in his three rides at reserve.

Astley & Tyldesley 66
Luke Jamson 16, Reece Pollitt 15 (1), Matt Snell 11, Max Evans 9 (2), Emily Burgess 9, Mark Grantham 6.

Sheffield 80
Kyle Holland 15 (2), Adam Watson 13 (2), Niall Morton 13 (1), Sam Haines 12, Laura Watson 10, Ed Morton 9 (1), Luke Morton 6 (1), Niamh Morton 2.
Referee – Mike Hack

A&T lost their 100% record in the Division 2 match which followed, as the club’s injury list forced A&T to field a young and inexperienced line-up.

Matt Snell and Max Evans top scored, with John White winning two races, but Sheffield took the lead in heat 2 and were never headed afterwards, running out comfortable 84-66 winners.

Ed Morton, Niamh Morton and Laura Watson led the scoring for Sheffield.

Astley & Tyldesley 66
Matt Snell 17 (1), Max Evans 14 (2), John White 11, Emily Burgess 10, Ben Forshaw 5, Danny Pickup 5, Charlie Burgess 2, Jack Murray 2.

Sheffield 84
Ed Morton 18, Niamh Morton 16 (1), Laura Watson 14 (3), Sam Haines 13 (1), Kielan Burton 12 (1), Luke Morton 11 (3).
Referee – Mike Hack

Defending champions A&T kept up their Division 3 title challenge, with an emphatic 106-14 victory. John White lost just once to Sheffield’s Kielan Burton, with solid scores from the rest.

Astley & Tyldesley 106
John White 15, Danny Pickup 14, Nathan Holt 13, Jack Murray 12, Charlie Burgess 11, Jack Littler 10, Lucy Grantham 9, Frank White 8, Aiden Green 6, Sabrina Evans 4, Tom Beeley 4.

Sheffield 14
Kielan Burton 14.
Referee – Catherine White