Astley & Tyldesley pulled off a sensational last heat win in Sunday's Midlands/North League Division 1 match at Stoke. Riding in atrocious conditions, in wind and rain on a heavy track, Stoke took a 7-2 in heat 1, after skipper Chris Finnigan clashed with Errol Thaw and failed to finish. The lead was quickly extended to 7 points but A & T showed their intention when Danny Hughes beat Thaw from the back in heat 4. A & T fought back magnificently and took the lead for the first time in heat 13, with a Finnigan / D. Hughes 7-3 over Leighton Bates / Harrison. A & T went into the last race 3 points ahead, but it was the Bates brothers of Stoke who were first out of the start. That was a match winning position for Stoke, but Finnigan dived in between them and relegated the hitherto most impressive Lewis into 3rd place, and restore A & T's lead. Amidst scenes of great jubilation in the pits, A & T celebrated a 90 - 89 win. Polish duo Darek Kurkowski and Tomasz Szwajorek were A & T's top two scorers, losing only to Stoke's best riders Lewis Bates and Errol Thaw. This was a truly magnificent team effort by each rider, full of determination and excellent teamwork, as A & T banished the memories of last season's mauling at the same venue.

Tomasz dedicated the team's win in memory of the 1st anniversary of the death of the Polish Pope John Paul II, whilst Darek dedicated the victory to his parents.

Midlands/North League Division 1 Northern Section and Northern Alliance League match result:

Stoke 89 Astley & Tyldesley MWC 90.

Stoke: Errol Thaw 16 (1), Lewis Bates 16 (1), Leighton Bates 15, Simon Munden 14, Richard Harrison 8 (2), Cameron Bates 7 (2), Dave Munden 7 (1), Adam Ellis 6.

A & T: Darek Kurkowski 19, Tomasz Szwajorek 18, Chris Finnigan 13 (1), Danny Hughes 13, Mike Hack 8 (1), George Hughes 7 (1), Mark Taylor 7 (1), Steven Kellett 5.

Referee - Rob Machin (Stoke).

A & T also won the Combination match, 73-47, with Mark Taylor and Mike Hack both racing unbeaten. There were impressive performances recorded by newcomers Steven Kellett and Mike Bolger, who both won two races each. Full marks to Stoke for fielding a completely different 2nd team.

Midlands/North League Combination Division Northern Section match result:

Stoke 'B' 47 Astley & Tyldesley MWC 'B' 73.

Stoke: Mick Aslem 10 (1), Rob Machin 9, John Bradburn 8, Damien Leech 7, Brian Smith 5, Chris Fallows 3, Matt Bailey 3, Ryan Jones 2.

A & T: Mark Taylor 15 (1), Mike Hack 14 (2), Steven Kellett 12, Roy Heslop 11 (1), Mike Bolger 11, George Hughes 10 (2).

Referee - Simon Munden (Stoke).