MATCH REPORT: Mixed fortunes for Astley & Tyldesley
Astley and Tyldesley had several riders missing for various reasons and were locked in a tightly contested Division 2 match with Glasgow.
A&T took the lead with a 6-4 in heat 1, but Glasgow levelled the scores in heat 6 and then took the lead, which they extended to 6 points after heat 11.
The home team reduced the deficit in the next race, before a dramatic heat 13, which saw Glasgow’s Andy MacDougall take a tumble whilst trying to pass A&T’s Matt Snell, with a subsequent exclusion as cause of the stoppage.
A&T took a 7-2 in the re-run to edge 1 point ahead, but Glasgow regained the lead in the penultimate race. Snell and A&T debutant Chaz Whalley took the all important 6-4 in the last race, to give A&T the win by the narrowest of margins, 75-74.
Mick Knowles raced unbeaten for A&T, with good support from Matt Snell and Emily Burgess. Joe Beuckmann lost only to Knowles in heat 12, with good support from Colin Gray and Lachlan MacDougall.
Astley & Tyldesley 75
Mick Knowles 19 (1), Matt Snell 15 (1), Emily Burgess 14, Chaz Whalley 10 (1), Charlie Burgess 10, Ben Forshaw 7.
Glasgow 74
Joe Beuckmann 18 (1), Colin Gray 15 (1), Lachlan MacDougall 13 (1), Andy MacDougall 11 (2), Jim Alexander 10, Chic Mackie 7 (1).
Referee – Mike Hack.
12 A&T youngsters contested the Division 3 match which followed, raced over 9 heats. Jack Murray, Emily Burgess and Charlie Burgess all raced unbeaten.
Astley & Tyldesley 90
Jack Murray 12, Emily Burgess 12, Charlie Burgess 12, Duncan Whalley 9, Lucy Grantham 9, Tom Beeley 8, Aiden Green 6, Deon Dickinson 5, Laura Snell 5,
Josh Parkinson 5, Freddie Cox 4, Oscar Belt 3.
Referee – Chaz Whalley.
League newcomers Fife Revolutions were next up in a Division 2 match. The first three races were drawn, as A&T provided the race winners.
Fife then banged in three 7-3 heat wins in the next four races, to move into a commanding 45-32 lead at the interval. A&T rallied to keep the gap at 13 points, before Fife finished off with three successive 7-3 heat wins, to run out convincing 86-61 winners.
Fife captain Craig Hardie lost only to Matt Snell in heat 1, whilst James Keenlyside lost only to Mick Knowles in heat 2, with strong support throughout. Knowles was best for A&T with two race wins. The visitors put in an impressive display and are a welcome, competitive addition to the North and Scotland League.
Astley & Tyldesley 61
Mick Knowles 16, Matt Snell 13, Emily Burgess 12, Charlie Burgess 8 (1), Chaz Whalley 6 (1), Jack Murray 5, Ben Forshaw 1.
Fife 86
Craig Hardie 18 (1), James Keenlyside 17 (2), Vas Hill 16 (2), Jake Ferguson 14 (1), John Hutton 14 (1), Alex Macleod 4 (1), Jacob Callaghan 3 (1).
Referee – Mike Hack.
A&T made it three wins out of three in the Division 3 match which followed, split into U10 and U13 categories. Emily Burgess raced unbeaten in the U13s match, with Duncan Whalley racing unbeaten in the U10s match.
Astley & Tyldesley 118
Duncan Whalley 16, Emily Burgess 16, Lucy Grantham 14, Tom Beeley 13, Aiden Green 13, Jack Murray 9, Charlie Burgess 8, Laura Snell 7, Josh Parkinson 7, Oscar Belt 5, Freddie Cox 5, Deon Dickinson 5.
Fife 12
Jacob Callaghan 12.
Referee – Chaz Whalley.