Astley & Tyldesley travelled to Sandwell for their Midlands / North League Division 2 encounter on Sunday. Minus Mark Wylie and Mike Hack (both injured), Damien Hack (exams) and Russ Holland (retired), A & T drafted in former riders Steve Mills and Lee Wood for their first matches in 5 and 7 years respectively, along with debutant Gary Nuttall. Sandwell are the current Division 2 champions and they showed a much less experienced A & T no mercy, as the Gin Pit outfit suffered their heaviest ever defeat in this League, going down 102-48. Mills was A & T's only race winner, but he added to A & T's woes when suffering a heavy fall 3rd time out and suffering a broken rib which ruled him out of his last two races. Young John Nuttall was also ruled out after taking a heavy fall first time out. Rob Longworth rode well for A & T, but on a wet, heavy track, A & T were glad to see the end of this match.

Midlands / North League Division 2 match score:

Sandwell 102 Astley & Tyldesley Miners' Welfare / CTA Direct 48.

A & T scorers:

Rob Longworth 10, Lee Wood 7, Steve Holland 7, Becky Heslop 7, Steve Mills 6, Chris Heslop 5, Gary Nuttall 4, John Nuttall 2.