MATCH REPORT: A&T convincing in Bury but rocked by Zareba retirement
Astley & Tyldesley have been rocked by the sad news that top rider Damian Zareba (pictured at Sheffield) has been forced to quit racing, due to a serious back injury.
The 34 year old Pole from Bydgoszcz was the 2004 European Champion and very much in form this year, despite racing when less than fully fit.
He aggravated his long standing injury in the Battle of Britain match in April and has bowed to medical advice to quit racing to avoid worsening the injury.
Everyone at A&T wishes Damian all the best – his dynamic and spectacular racing style will be sorely missed.
Damian Zareba went out on a high, scoring a maximum in the Battle of Britain, his last meeting. Photo by Linda Kirkland.
Astley & Tyldesley visited Bury for a North and Scotland League local derby fixture on a very blustery Sunday afternoon.
Bury opened with a 6-4 heat win in the Division 1 match, but A&T banged in three maximum 7-3 heat wins to open up a 10 points lead after heat 7. The visitors were content to sit on this lead, before scoring another 7-3 win in heat 16, to run out convincing 97-82 winners.
It was a very good team performance by a fitter and faster A&T eam, with all six riders scoring well and featured Reece Pollitt dropping just two points. Best for Bury was Kris Ramsden, who also dropped two points.
Bury 82
Kris Ramsden 21 (1), Danny Taylor 17, Adam Turnbull 13 (1), Adam Taylor 11 (1), Neil Howarth 10, Asim Hussain 6 (1), Kaysar Mohammadi 4.
A&T 97
Reece Pollitt 20 (2), Paul Graham 18 (1), Ciaran Collins 17 (2), Max Evans 16 (2), Kyle Holland 14 (5), Mark Grantham 12 (1).
Referee – John Burston
Bury made a quick start in the Division 2 match, leading 19-11 after 3 heats, but A&T fought back well to lead 52-46 with five races remaining.
A controversial end to the match, with some races run over three laps only, saw Bury take four 7-3 heat wins in the last five races and A&T captain Max Evans receive a red card and four points deduction for dissent to the referee, as Bury ran out 79-65 winners. Gareth Paine and Max Evans won three races each for A&T.
Bury 79
Adam Taylor 15 (3), Adam Turnbull 14 (2), Louis Turner 13 (1), Asim Hussain 12 (1), Kaysar Mohammadi 9 (1), Harry Radford 7 (1), Steve Mann 6, Josh Neath 3.
A&T 65
Gareth Paine 14, Mark Grantham 12 (1), Max Evans 11, Emily Burgess 10 (1), John White 9 (2), Mark Brundrett 4, Charlie Burgess 4, Tom Morrissey 1.
Referee – John Burston
A&T maintained their 100% record in Division 3, with a convincing 133-53 win. Emily Burgess raced unbeaten in the U13 category, as did Kaci Neath and Duncan Whalley in the U10 category.
Bury 53
Kaci Neath 16, Harry Radford 14, Josh Neath 10, Charlie Thacker 8, Rowan Neath 5.
A&T 133
Duncan Whalley 16, Emily Burgess 16, John White 14, Aiden Green 13, Tom Morrissey 13, Frank White 12, Fraser Brundrett 11, Lucy Grantham 10, Freddie Cox 8, Charlie Burgess 8, Tom Beeley 6, Sabrina Evans 6.
Referee – Kaysar Mohammadi
Report: Mike Hack