MATCH REPORT: A&T pushed hard by Hull
Report by Mike Hack
Astley & Tyldesley and Hull both had several riders missing, at the start of the holiday season, as the two clubs met in a North & Scotland fixture at Gin Pit on Sunday. On a warm, cloudy day, A&T came out on top in all three matches, with Hull pushing hard in each match.
The Division 1 match got off to a bad start, when race leader, Hull’s Jack Lister, fell on the pits bend. A&T’s Emily Burgess was close behind, couldn’t avoid him and took a heavy fall, which ruled her out of the rest of the day’s racing. With Lister excluded, A&T took a 6-3 in the re-run, and a 7-3 in the next race. Four shared heats followed before another 7-3 to A&T in heat 7 saw them holding a comfortable 45-34 interval lead. A&T took two more 7-3s in the 2nd half, to run out 97-80 winners, with Hull claiming inside grids after heat 12.
Hull’s Jack Lister leading A&T’s Emily Burgess. Photo courtesy of Len Priestley, A&T Official Photographer.
All six A&T riders who completed the match rose to the challenge and recorded good scores, with five of them winning races. Devon Campbell lost twice to Jack Lister. Noah Lyon won two races for Hull, with solid support from Jack Lister, Harry Gibson and Kacey Bennett, who all won races. The fastest time of the match was 43.53 seconds, by Jack Lister, in heat 4.
North & Scotland League Division 1 match result
Astley & Tyldesley 97 Hull 80
A&T: Devon Campbell 21 (1), Steve Harris 19, Terry Norman 17 (4), Duncan Whalley 14 (1), Levi Edwards 13 (2), Josh Pilkington 13 (1), Emily Burgess – withdrew injured.
Hull: Noah Lyon 17 (1), Jack Lister 16 (1), Harry Gibson 15 (1), Kacey Bennett 14, Ellwood Harrison 7, Will Hollich 6 (1), Sophia Temple 5.
Referee – Graham Lush.
A&T were a rider short for the Division 2 match, but edged into a 6 points lead by heat 5, thanks to two early 7-3 heat wins. However, Hull drew level, after taking a 7-2 in heat 9. A&T immediately responded with a 7-3 and a 6-4 heat win in successive races, to regain the lead. A&T rounded off the match with two 7-3 heat wins, to give a 79-65 win, which belied the closeness of the scores for most of the match.
Steve Harris and Duncan Whalley both raced unbeaten for A&T, whilst Josh Pilkington and Levi Edwards once again really stepped up, with Elijah Rechembei scoring vital points, to keep A&T’s title challenge alive. Kacey Bennett top scored for a young Hull side which battled gamely throughout the match.
North & Scotland League Division 2 match result
Astley & Tyldesley 79 Hull 65
A&T: Duncan Whalley 19 (1), Steve Harris 18 (2), Josh Pilkington 17 (1), Levi Edwards 16 (2), Elijah Rechembei 9 (1).
Hull: Kacey Bennett 14, Sophia Temple 11 (2), Ellwood Harrison 11 (1), Harry Gibson 11, Alexis Woodcock 7 (1), Aalijah Temple 6 (2), Will Hollich 5 (1).
Referee – Graham Lush.
The Division 3 match brought the 2023 champions Hull, against the winners of the eight preceding campaigns, A&T. The home team ran out comfortable 87-61 winners, to maintain their 100% record this season. A&T’s Elijah Rechembei and Hull’s Harry Gibson both raced unbeaten in the u-10 and u-13 categories respectively. Having won at Hull earlier in the season, A&T are now in a strong position to reclaim the Division 3 title.
Northern League Division 3 match result
Astley & Tyldesley 87 Hull 61
A&T: Elijah Rechembei 16, Josh Pilkington 14, James Jackson 13, Levi Edwards 12, Heather Brighouse 10, Jack Challinor 10, Harry Jackson 6, Charlotte Brighouse 6.
Hull: Harry Gibson 16, Alexis Woodcock 13, Ellwood Harrison 12, Will Hollich 10, Sophia Temple 6, Aalijah Temple 4.
Referee – Graham Lush.
Big shout out to Levi Edwards, Josh Pilkington, Harry Gibson, Ellwood Harrison, Will Hollich and Sophia Temple, for turning out in all three matches to ensure that their clubs fielded a team at each level.