Astley & Tyldesley visited Stockport on Sunday for the final match of the Northern Alliance League campaign. This was very much a title show down, with the two teams holding down the top two places in the League. A win for A & T would clinch the league title, but A & T were dealt a severe blow when skipper Chris Finnigan was ruled out, after suffering whiplash injuries in a car accident on Friday evening. A & T had three other first teamers missing, as did Stockport, and this resulted in a very tactical match being ridden.

Eight of the first nine races were drawn, but A & T held a slender 2 points lead at the interval, thanks to a 6-4 to the Tomasz Wlodarczyk / Mark Taylor pairing in heat 7 over Danny White / Daniel Harrison. Stockport took the lead in heat 10, but A & T immediately hit back with another 6-4 from Wlodarczyk / Taylor over Paul Ogden / Derek Garnett to level the scores. With the next three races shared, the scores were still level with just four races to go. Stockport took a 7-3 in heat 15, and a 6-4 heat win in heat 17 clinched victory for them, by 93 points to 87.

A & T's Polish duo of Tomasz Wlodarczyk and Darek Kurkowski were both in magnificent form, both racing unbeaten, with Danny Hughes putting in a storming performance, despite being affected by a long standing back injury. The whole team put in a great battling display, but A & T were left to rue the absence of four first teamers for various reasons. The Northern title outcome is still undecided, as Stockport need to win both their remaining home matches against Edinburgh and Heckmondwike to clinch the title, otherwise the title goes to A & T.

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

Stockport 2006 93 Astley & Tyldesley MWC 87

Stockport: Paul Ogden 16 (1), Danny White 15 (2), Steve Ward 15 (1), Warren Mee 14 (2), Jeff Radcliffe 12 (1), Alan Taylor 9 (4), Derek Garnett 7, Daniel Harrison 5.

A & T: Darek Kurkowski 20, Tomasz Wlodarczyk 20, Danny Hughes 15 (1), George Hughes 8 (2), Mark Taylor 7, Mike Hack 6 (1), Roy Heslop 6, Steven Kellett 5.

Referee - Chris Finnigan.

A & T ran out easy winners in the Combination Division match, 69 - 49, with Joe Allen, Roy Heslop and Steve Kellett all racing unbeaten, as was Mark Taylor from his two races as sub. Joe put in some great passes to overcome his poor gating. Charlie Keirl rode well for his points, as did Adam Phillips on his new bike, whilst Michelle Hughes rode her first match for over 10 years.

Midlands/North League Combination Division match result:

Stockport 2006 'B' 49 Astley & Tyldesley MWC 'B' 69

Stockport: Dylan Radcliffe 11 (1), Ben Higham 10, Matt Lush 9, Jack Lush 8 (3), Jake Read 5 (1), Dean Healey 3, Oliver Cator 3, Daniel Harrison 0.

A & T: Joe Allen 16, Roy Heslop 15 (1), Steven Kellett 12, Charlie Keirl 9 (1), Mark Taylor 6 (2), Adam Phillips 6, Michelle Hughes 5.