MATCH REPORT: Leaders Stockport defeated at A&T

Gin Pit was the venue on Sunday for a hard fought North and Scotland League clash between Division 1 leaders Stockport and second placed A&T.

Despite A&T having three key riders missing due to injury (enforced retirement), illness and suspension, it was the home team who came out of the blocks fastest. A&T took the lead in heat 2 and gradually extended that to run out 94-82 winners.

Marcin Jakubiak made his debut for A&T. In an impressive display, he lost only to Louis Wright in heat 4 and recorded the fastest time of the match, 40.78 secs in heat 11.

Adam Phillips made a welcome return to the team after three years absence and he scored heavily, despite a gate exclusion in heat 9. Paul Graham and Reece Pollitt were also in fine form, in a great team display by A&T.

Jake Read top scored for Stockport, but Ben Higham was hampered by a thumb injury, picked up in the first of his two race exclusions. Stockport retain their lead at the top of the table, level on match points with A&T, but with a superior race points difference.

Astley & Tyldesley 94
Marcin Jakubiak 22 (1), Paul Graham 18, Reece Pollitt 16 (3), Adam Phillips 16 (1), Kyle Holland 11 (3), Mick Knowles 8, Mark Grantham 3.

Stockport 82
Jake Read 19 (2), Terry Norman 14, Devon Campbell 13 (1), Louis Wright 13, Ben Higham 12, Michael Preston 11 (2).

Referee – Mike Hack.

Stockport conceded 20 penalty points for fielding an ineligible rider in the Division 2 match that followed and A&T took full advantage with some clever team tactics, to run out narrow 86-82 winners. Michael Preston and Louis Wright both raced unbeaten for Stockport.

Astley & Tyldesley 86
Emily Burgess 12, Matt Snell 11 (1), Mark Grantham 11 (1), Mick Knowles 10 (4), Danny Pickup 9 (2), Mark Brundrett 5 (1), John White 3, Ben Forshaw 3, Tom Morrissey 2.

Stockport 82
Michael Preston 20, Louis Wright 19 (1), Devon Campbell 15 (1), Jake Read 14 (2), Daniel Mason 9, Lance McCabe 5.

Referee – Chas Whalley.

A&T enjoyed a whitewash 166-0 win in the Division 3 match that followed, to maintain their 100% record at the top of the table. Duncan Whalley raced unbeaten in the u-10s category, with John White unbeaten in the u-13s section.

Astley & Tyldesley 166
Duncan Whalley 16, John White 16, Aiden Green 13, Fraser Brundrett 13, Lucy Grantham 13, Frank White 13, Tom Beeley 12, Tom Morrissey 11, Charlie Burgess 11, Oscar Belt 8, Freddie Cox 8, Jack Murray 8, Daniel Johnson 7, Laura Snell 7, Sabrina Evans 6, Deon Dickinson 4.

Stockport 0

Referee – Catherine White.

Astley & Tyldesley were one of two Northern representatives in the first national round of the British Youth & Junior League series at Kesgrave, Suffolk on Saturday. The event attracted a large turnout and the A&T riders performed really well in a strong field.

In the U8 event, Aiden Green finished in 6th place and Frank White 10th.
John White finished in fourth place in the U12 event, with Matt Snell thirteenth in the U14 match.

Just turned 13 years old, Emily Burgess competed in the 12-17 year old Girls event and did really well to finish in fourth place.