MATCH REPORT: Manchester League Round 1

A&T Cover

Astley & Tyldesley hosted Round 1 of the Manchester League Grand Prix series at Gin Pit on Wednesday evening. The track was in an excellent damp, firm condition on a dry, pleasant evening.

The Division 2 match was raced first, with Bury’s Bobby Dunphy racing to a 16 points maximum in the u-10s category, twice defeating A&T’s Josh Pilkington. Bobby’s team mate, Jayden Hancock, emulated his performance in fine style in the u-13s category, three times heading home A&T’s Oscar Belt. Duncan Whalley, of A&T, had to pass Bury’s Tom Dunphy on three occasions, to record a 16 points maximum in the u-16s category. A&T’s top five scorers just edged out the five Bury riders, the 2021 champions, to win the Division 2 match, 65-60.

Manchester League Division 2 result (top 5 scorers only count to teams’ totals)

Astley & Tyldesley 65 Bury 60

U-10s: Bobby Dunphy (Bury) 16, Josh Pilkington (A&T) 14, Levi Edwards (A&T) 12, Alex Lawless (A&T) 10, George Keeble (Bury) 10, Thomas Smith (A&T) 8.

U-13s: Jayden Hancock (Bury) 16, Oscar Belt (A&T) 13, Oliver Fox-Wingfield (A&T) 10, Savannah Hancock (Bury) 6, Jasmine Lawless (A&T) 5.

U-16s: Duncan Whalley (A&T) 16, Tom Dunphy (Bury) 12, Caspar Ellis (A&T) 8, Owen Simcock (A&T) 4.

Referee – Chaz Whalley.

All three Gt. Manchester clubs were represented in the Division 1 match. Prior to the match, there was a minute’s applause in memory of former Bury rider, Paul Mann, who died last week. A&T’s Reece Pollitt raced to an impressive 16 points maximum score, posting the fastest time of the night, 41.28 seconds, when winning the final heat. Team mate Steve Harris, on the eve of his 54th birthday, turned in an excellent performance, losing only to Pollitt in heat 4. His fellow Grand Veteran, Stockport’s Terry Norman, also belied his years with a strong showing, losing only to Harris, who twice passed him to win heats 7 and 10. Defending champions, A&T, took the team win on the night, finishing comfortably ahead of Bury and Stockport.

Manchester League Division 1 result (top 5 scorers only count to teams’ totals)

Astley & Tyldesley 51 Bury 34 Stockport 25

Seniors: Reece Pollitt (A&T) 16, Steve Harris (A&T) 15, Terry Norman (Stockport) 14, Mike Baldock (Bury) 13, Ben Higham (Stockport) 11, Eryk Motala (Bury) 11, Kris Ramsden (Bury) 10, Duncan Whalley (A&T) 7, Owen Simcock (A&T) 7, Caspar Ellis (A&T) 6.

Referee – Chaz Whalley.