MATCH REPORT: A&T take 3 wins over Bury
Report by Mike Hack
Astley & Tyldesley and Bury dished out a most entertaining encounter in Sunday’s North & Scotland League Division 1 match at Gin Pit. On a warm and very windy afternoon, the track quickly dried out, despite plenty of watering before and during the various breaks in racing.
Resplendent in their new racing tops, Bury twice led early on, after taking a 6-4 in heat 1 and a 7-3 in heat 4. A&T promptly replied with two 7-3 heat wins to re-take the lead, which they never subsequently lost and ran out 96-84 winners. Bury made an interesting team selection by pairing their two best riders together – Mike Baldock and Kris Ramsden. However, a 5-5 each time they raced together was not the result Bury were looking for, especially as A&T took 7-3s each time against the Eryk Motala and Mark Radford pairing. Ramsden had an excellent match for Bury, losing twice only to Reece Pollitt, who once again raced unbeaten for A&T, and recorded the fastest time of the match, 42.38 seconds, in heat 7. This win keeps a solid scoring A&T team at the top of the league table. The match was hard fought, with plenty of action, but ridden in a good spirit throughout.
North & Scotland League Division 1 match result
Astley & Tyldesley 96 Bury 84
A&T: Reece Pollitt 22 (2), Pawel Idziorek 17 (1), Paul Graham 15, Tom Morrissey 14, Steve Harris 13 (3), Joel Partington 12, Duncan Whalley 3.
Bury: Kris Ramsden 20 (2), Will Owens 15 (1), Danny Taylor 13 (2), Mike Baldock 13 (1), Eryk Motala 10 (1), Tom Dunphy 10, Mark Radford 3.
Referee – Chaz Whalley.
Both teams were well under strength for the Division 2 match, with plenty of riders missing. Bury only fielded four riders, whilst A&T promoted young riders to fill the gaps and that proved vital in securing a 75-62 win for A&T. Duncan Whalley lost only to Tom Dunphy in heat 15, with Dunphy, Steve Mann and Mark Radford losing only to Whalley.
North & Scotland League Division 2 match result
Astley & Tyldesley 75 Bury 62
A&T: Duncan Whalley 18 (1), Oscar Belt 14 (1), Owen Simcock 12 (3), Alex Lawless 11 (1), Levi Edwards 11, Lincoln Davies 9 (1).
Bury: Steve Mann 17 (2), Mark Radford 17 (2), Tom Dunphy 17 (1), Bobby Dunphy 11 (1),
Referee – Chaz Whalley.
There was a lower than usual turn out for the Division 3 match, with several A&T youngsters off due to illness. A&T ran out convincing winners, 78-26, to maintain their title challenge. Bobby Dunphy and Oscar Belt raced unbeaten in the u-10 and u-13 categories respectively.
North & Scotland League Division 3 match result
Astley & Tyldesley 78 Bury 26
A&T: Oscar Belt 16, Josh Pilkington 14, Levi Edwards 12, Chloe Bassett 12, Nahom Tumizghy 9, Alex Lawless 9, Lincoln Davies 6.
Bury: Bobby Dunphy 16, Alex Lees 10.
Referee – Lee Phillips.