Astley & Tyldesley suffered an agonising home defeat against Hull in a Northern League match at Gin Pit on Sunday. A & T were a rider short, as once again a large number of the club's riders were missing, and this proved decisive as they went down 88-87 to the visitors. A & T's Polish trio were all in magnificent form, with Remi Burchardt and Tomasz Wlodarczyk both racing unbeaten. Darek Kurkowski would have joined them, but for being excluded in a controversial heat 3, whilst on a 7-3 with Mike Hack, when the A & T riders felt that Hull's Darren Spencer should have been excluded for crossing the inside. Hull took a 7-2 in the re-run after Spencer caused Hack to fall on the first half lap. This also proved to be decisive, as Hull hung on to their narrow lead, despite A & T's best efforts and providing 14 out of the 18 race winners.

Northern League match result

Astley & Tyldesley 87 Hull 88

A & T: Remi Burchardt 20, Tomasz Wlodarczyk 20, Darek Kurkowski 16, Joe Allen 11 (1), Roy Heslop 7, Mike Hack 7, Adam Watson 6.

Hull: Adam Stephenson 17 (1), Darren Spencer 15 (2), Corey Graham 15, Lewis Aylmer 12 (4), Andy Angell 11 (1), Andy Norrie 10 (3), Andy Richardson 8 (1).

Referee - Gary Nuttall (Astley & Tyldesley).

It was another close encounter in the Combination match, but this time, A & T ran out 70-67 winners. Both sides had four eligible riders. A & T preferred to field two ineligible riders and concede 28 penalty points, whilst Hull had two blank places. Hull led from the start until A & T took a 7-3 in the penultimate race to take a narrow win. A great performance by young Adam Watson (pictured) was the difference between victory and defeat.

Northern Combination League match result

Astley & Tyldesley 'B' 70 Hull 'B' 67

A & T: Remi Burchardt 16, Tomasz Wlodarczyk 12 (4), Joe Allen 14 (1), Roy Heslop 11 (2), Mike Hack 9, Adam Watson 8 (3).

Hull: Lewis Aylmer 12, Adam Stephenson 10, Andy Norrie 10, Andy Richardson 7 (1).