MATCH REPORT: Read races to victory in Manchester League final round

The 2017 Manchester League season concluded with the Senior Individual Final held at Bury on Wednesday evening.

Stockport’s Jake Read took a vital win from grid 4 in heat 1, passing his team mate Ben Higham. Higham and Read both went on to win their next races. Meanwhile, Astley & Tyldesley’s Reece Pollitt won his opening two races. Higham took the win in heat 9, before Pollitt kept up his unbeaten run by inflicting a defeat on Read in heat 11.

The three leading contenders won their next races; so after four rides Pollitt was unbeaten on 16 points, closely followed by Higham and Read on 15 points apiece.

Higham started from grid 1 in heat 17, with Pollitt on grid 4 and Stockport’s Louis Wright on grid 2. The race was re-run after a first bend clash. In the restart, Higham moved Pollitt wide on the first lap enabling Wright to come through and briefly take the lead, before Higham regained first place. Pollitt chased hard throughout the race, but was unable to split the Stockport pair. Read took the win in the last race, to join Higham on 19 points and force a run-off for the title. In the run-off, Read won the toss and took grid 2. He gated first and took an easy win, with Higham giving up the chase after one lap.

Manchester League Senior Individual Final result
Jake Read (Stockport) 19, Ben Higham (Stockport) 19, Reece Pollitt (A&T) 18, Adam Watson (Sheffield) 17, Terry Norman (Stockport) 15, Louis Wright (Stockport) 15, Devon Campbell (Stockport) 14, Kris Ramsden (Bury) 13, Michael Preston (Stockport) 13, Neil Howarth (Bury) 12, Laura Watson (Sheffield) 10, Mark Brundrett (A&T) 9.

Referee – Chas Whalley.