MATCH REPORT: Pollitt on form as A&T maintain unbeaten start

Astley & Tyldesley welcomed Hull for a Northern League meeting at a very wet Gin Pit on Sunday. Heavy rain overnight made for a heavy track, with the rain coming down heavily during the Division 1 match, but clearing for the two later matches.

Hull arrived with only six riders, but the presence of British Champion Andy Angell would ensure strong opposition in some of the races. In the Division 1 match, A&T opened up with two heat wins, to take a lead they never lost. A&T’s Reece Pollitt made a fast start in heat 3 and held off four laps of intense pressure from Angell to record a famous victory, with team mate Luke Jamson taking 2nd place on the line, as Angell slipped on the last bend.

A&T continued to pile on the pressure and the result was never in doubt. Angell recovered from his first race defeat to reel off four successive wins and inflict the first defeats of the NL season on A&T’s Polish duo of Damian Zareba and Radek Handke. Pollitt meanwhile was unbeaten by an opponent in his remaining four races, to record a maximum score from his five races. Jamson was also unbeaten in his four races, before being subbed for his last race. A&T were solid scoring throughout, with good scores from the whole team. For Hull, Angell recorded the fastest time of the match, 43.10 seconds, when winning heat 18, but he fought a lone battle, despite plenty of effort from his team mates.

Northern League Division 1 match result

Astley & Tyldesley 112
Reece Pollitt 19 (1), Radek Handke 18, Damian Zareba 17 (2), Mark Mulvey 14, Luke Jamson 13 (3), Lee Phillips 12 (3), Danny Hughes 11 (3), Ciaran Collins 8 (1).

Hull 62
Andy Angell 18, Lewis Aylmer 12, David Cooper 11 (1), Dominic Bent 9, Josh Bellis 6, Katie Greaves 6.

Referee – Mark Graham.

Hull fielded two ineligible riders for the Division 2 match, thereby conceding 39 penalty points. The result therefore, was never in doubt, but some good racing took place between the two teams. A&T recorded an 8 points advantage on the track, aided by Hull being a rider short, to take a 114-67 victory. Hull’s David Cooper top scored, losing only to A&T’s Ciaran Collins, with Lewis Aylmer and Dominic Bent scoring well. For A&T, Jon Quarmby dropped just two points, with good back up from Collins and Gareth Paine.

Northern League Division 2 match result

Astley & Tyldesley 114
Jon Quarmby 15 (3), Ciaran Collins 14, Gareth Paine 14, Joe Quarmby 11 (3), Max Evans 10 (1), John White 9 (1), Emily Burgess 2 (1), Charlie Burgess dnr.

Hull 67
David Cooper 18 (1), Dominic Bent 15, Lewis Aylmer 14, Josh Bellis 13 (1), Katie Greaves 7 (1).

Referee – Mark Graham.

Hull failed to field any riders for the Division 3 match, so the 14 A&T riders raced amongst themselves, to rack up another big victory. John White raced to another unbeaten score, with Emily Burgess losing only to Luke Hill in heat 1.

Northern League Division 3 match result

Astley & Tyldesley 150  Hull 0
John White 16, Emily Burgess 15, Joe Quarmby 14, Luke Hill 13, Charlie Dickinson 13, Charlie Burgess 12, Jack Murray 11, Jack Littler 11, Jonah Clare 10, Ryan Fallon 8, Kieran Fallon 8, Max Quarmby 7, Lucy Grantham 6, Finn Boland 6.

Referee – Mike Hack.

These three big wins mean that A&T continue their 100% record this season from 11 matches, with all three teams sitting at the top of each division.