MATCH REPORT: Northern 4’s Round 5

On a wet dismal day, Stockport hosted the penultimate Round 5 of the Northern Fours & Junior League series. Astley & Tyldesley started the day as clear leaders of both leagues, but A&T were beaten on the day in both leagues. Consequently, both titles are still up for grabs and will be decided in the final round of the series at Bury next Sunday.

In the Junior League match. Sheffield took the win on the day, to draw level with A&T at the top of the Junior League table. Sheffield’s Oliver Banyard raced unbeaten in the u-10s match, whilst A&T’s Charlie Burgess top scored in the u-13s match with 13 points. Bury’s Harry Radford and Sheffield’s Kielan Burton put on four entertaining races in the u-16s match, with honours even. Heckmondwike’s Darren Kent raced to a 16 points maximum in the Division 2 match. The other three categories had just one rider each, so were combined, as A&T’s Reece Pollitt raced unbeaten on the track, with scores adjusted for Bury’s Eryk Motala (u-19) and Niamh Morton (Women).

Northern Junior League match result

(all GP scores except Div. 1 count to team totals)

Sheffield 69 Astley & Tyldesley 60 Bury 51 Stockport 28 Heckmondwike 26 Hull 20

U-10s: Oliver Banyard (Sheffield) 16, Edward Balfour (Sheffield) 15, Aiden Green (A&T) 14, Levi Edwards (A&T) 13, Freddie Cox (A&T) 13, Joseph Farrell (Stockport) 11, Bobby Dunphy (Bury) 8, Erin Balfour (Sheffield) 8, Ada Cox (A&T) 7.

U-13s: Charlie Burgess (A&T) 13, Ewan Ferreira (Stockport) 12, Tom Dunphy (Bury) 9, Ryan Byrne (Stockport) 5.

U-16s: Harry Radford (Bury) 14, Kielan Burton (Sheffield) 14.

U-19s: Eryk Motala (Bury) 16.

Div. 2: Darren Kent (Heckmondwike) 16, Jack Lister (Hull) 11, Thomas Kent (Heckmondwike) 10, Matt Eglen (Hull) 9, Steve Mann (Bury) 4.

Women: Niamh Morton (Sheffield) 16.

Div. 1: Reece Pollitt (A&T) 16.

Referees – Graham Lush and Ben Higham.

Northern Junior League standings

Astley & Tyldesley 21 (459); Sheffield 21 (442); Bury 15 (223); Hull 9 (135); Heckmondwike 6 (105); Stockport 6 (68).

The Fours League match was a hard fought affair, which was won on the day by Bury. Stockport edged out Astley & Tyldesley by a single point. A&T finished the day by remaining as league leaders, but are now only one point ahead of second placed Stockport.

A&T’s Steve Harris pulled off two superb passes on the opening laps of his first two races, as he went on to record a 16 points maximum score. Team mate Reece Pollitt gated superbly in each race, as he too posted a 16 points maximum score. However, the absence of any more 1st teamers, saw 2nd team riders promoted to the team. Bury deservedly took the win on the day, scoring solidly throughout.

Northern Fours League match result

Bury 52 Stockport 47 Astley & Tyldesley 46 Hull 40 Sheffield 27 Heckmondwike 19

Bury: Kris Ramsden 14, Harry Radford 13, Danny Taylor 10, Kaysar Mohammadi 9, Eryk Motala 6.
Stockport: Ben Higham 14, Terry Norman 12, Louis Wright 11, Devon Campbell 10.
A&T: Steve Harris 16, Reece Pollitt 16, Mick Knowles 8, Charlie Burgess 6.
Hull: Nathan Everett 13, Jack Lister 10, Matt Eglen 9, Frank Auffret 6, Reagan Stubbs 2.
Sheffield: Niamh Morton 8, Kielan Burton 7, James Morris 7, Oliver Banyard 5.
Heckmondwike: Darren Kent 12, Thomas Kent 7.

Referee – Neil Howarth.

Northern Fours League standings

Astley & Tyldesley 21 (197); Stockport 20 (189); Bury 18 (188); Hull 12 (155); Heckmondwike 7 (109); Sheffield 6 (111).