On a fast grippy track surface at the Gin Pit cycle speedway circuit, Astley & Tyldesley took on Leicester 'B' in Saturday's Midlands / North League Division 2 match. A & T were looking to avenge last month's defeat at Leicester, but were dealt a cruel blow prior to the match with Mark Wylie, top scorer in both league matches to date, ruled out due to having suffered a broken wrist.

Leicester moved into an early lead, but A & T kept on their tails throughout, twice reducing the deficit to 1point, before finally going down by 77 points to 72. Mike Hack and Damien Hack, despite a fall, both top scored for A & T, both losing only to Leicester's top men of Jones and Watts. However, A & T's real star was young Rob Longworth, who mounted on a new bike, recorded his best ever 1st team score of 16 points, winning two races and knocking an incredible 3.5 seconds off his personal best time. Steve Holland also weighed in with some good rides, but A & T were left to rue the injury to Wylie. For Leicester, Rob Jones was excellent throughout, dropping just 1 point in the final heat, with Gavin Watts and Tom Sensicall both recording important race wins. The real difference between the teams was the juniors at the lower end of the scorechart, with Leicester's youngsters having the edge.

Midlands/North League Division 2 match score:

Astley & Tyldesley Miners' Welfare / CTA Direct 72 Leicester 'B' 77

A & T scorers:

Mike Hack 17, Damien Hack 17, Rob Longworth 16, Steve Holland 9 (plus 1

bonus), Becky Heslop 5 (1), Chris Heslop 4, John Nuttall 4.

Leicester 'B' scorers:

Gavin Watts 17, Rob Jones 16 (plus 3 bonus), Tom Sensicall 15, Lucy

Whitehead 13, Carl Jarvis 9 (3), Matthew Brough 7, Russ Kenyon 0.

In the Junior Individual that followed, Leicester's Tom Sensicall won with a 16 points maximum score, ahead of team mate Lucy Whitehead on 15, with A & T's Rob Longworth 3rd with 14.

On Saturday (11th May), Astley & Tyldesley host the Midlands / North Regional Round 2 of the British Youth & Junior League, starting at 2 pm.

Spectators are always welcome to watch the racing action at the Astley & Tyldesley Miners' Welfare Club, Meanley Road, Gin Pit, Astley, Gt. Manchester.

Mike Hack

Astley & Tyldesley Cycle Speedway Club Secretary

Tel. 01942 515341 (H) or 0161-793 3537 (W)