MATCH REPORT: Entertaining Challenge match at Gin Pit
Astley & Tyldesley and Hull raced out an entertaining challenge match at Gin Pit on Sunday. The visitors were missing a few regular riders, so A&T loaned them Steve Harris, to make for a competitive match. And that’s exactly what happened, with A&T holding a slender 42-38 lead at the break. The second half saw A&T’s line up of young riders (all aged 23 and under) take three maximum 7-3 heat wins to extend their lead and run out 84-66 winners.
A&T scored solidly throughout, all the riders made a good contribution, with Reece Pollitt only beaten once by Hull’s top rider, Nathan Everett, in heat 15. For Hull, Everett, Harris and David Cooper all won races as they made a good match of it. Credit to Nathan Everett, for turning out after completing the gruelling Three Peaks Challenge the previous day, and recording the fastest time, 42.97 secs, in heat 1.
1st team Challenge match result
Astley & Tyldesley 84 Hull 66
A&T: Joel Partington 14, Duncan Whalley 13 (2), Tom Morrissey 13, Charlie Burgess 12 (5), Emily Burgess 12, Reece Pollitt 9 (2), Sonny Waddington 8 (1), Owen Simcock 3.
Hull: Nathan Everett 17 (1), Steve Harris 12 (1), David Cooper 11, Ryan Tomkinson 9, Regan Stubbs 8, James Logan 7, Will Hollich 2.
Referee – Chaz Whalley.
The 3rd team challenge match was contested entirely by u-10 riders. A&T’s Sonny Waddington raced to a fine 16 points maximum score, recording the fastest time, 37.28 secs, in heat 1. Josh Pilkington turned in an excellent performance, scoring 14 points in his first ever match, after riding at the last two holiday taster sessions.
3rd team Challenge match result
Astley & Tyldesley 58 Hull 12
A&T: Sonny Waddington 16, Josh Pilkington 14, Levi Edwards 12, Dexter Mole 8, Myles Grantham 8.
Hull: Will Hollich 12.
Referee – Chaz Whalley.