MATCH REPORT: Manchester League Round 4

June 24, 2021 Steve Copping

Report by Mike Hack

Astley & Tyldesley hosted Round 4 of the Manchester League Grand Prix series on Wednesday evening, on a dry track. Riders from all three North West clubs, A&T, Bury and Stockport competed.

In the Senior (Division 1) match, defending champions Astley & Tyldesley extended their lead by taking the team win. A&T’s Steve Harris raced to a 16 points maximum score, the highlight being a superb last lap outside overtake of Bury’s Kris Ramsden. Stockport’s Terry Norman lost only twice to Harris, to maintain his lead in both the Senior and Veterans GP series.

Manchester League Division 1 match result

Astley & Tyldesley 36 Bury 20 Stockport 14

Senior scorers: Steve Harris (A&T) 16, Terry Norman (Stockport) 14, Kris Ramsden (Bury) 12, Duncan Whalley (A&T) 10, Charlie Burgess (A&T) 10, Mark Radford (Bury) 8.

Referee – Chaz Whalley.

Defending champions Astley & Tyldesley also took the spoils in the Junior (Division 2) match, to extend their lead in the table. Three A&T riders – Oscar Belt, Duncan Whalley, Charlie Burgess – all raced unbeaten in the u-10, u-13 and u-16 categories respectively, extending their leads in each series. A&T’s Lucy Grantham extended her lead in the Women’s GP series. Sonny Waddington rode excellently on his debut for A&T in the u-10s match, losing only to Oscar Belt in heat 11. Bury’s Tom Dunphy lost only to Duncan Whalley in the u-13s match. A&T fielded five new riders in this match, the fruits of recent recruitment taster sessions.

Manchester League Division 2 match result (top 5 points scorers only count for team totals)

Astley & Tyldesley 75 Bury 63

U-10 scorers: Oscar Belt (A&T) 16, Sonny Waddington (A&T) 15, Bobby Dunphy (Bury) 14, George Keeble (Bury) 13, Dexter Mole (A&T) 11, Harry Dunford (Bury) 10, Alexander Lawless (A&T) 10, Myles Grantham (A&T) 10, Charlie Dunford (Bury) 7, Ted Woods (A&T) 6.

U-13 scorers: Duncan Whalley (A&T) 16, Tom Dunphy (Bury) 14, Tomasz Polomski (Bury) 12, Jack Waddington (A&T) 12, Sam Dunphy (Bury) 8, Harriet Belt (A&T) 8, Jasmine Lawless (A&T) 6.

U-16 scorers: Charlie Burgess (A&T) 16, Lucy Grantham (A&T) 11, Owen Simcock (A&T) 6, Rowan Grundy (A&T) 6.

Referee – Chaz Whalley.

Round 5 is scheduled to be held at Stockport on Wednesday, 7th July, 7 pm start.