For the first time in living memory, Astley & Tyldesley faced a league meeting on Easter Sunday, in the 2nd Round of the Northern Fours & Junior League series, at Heckmondwike. All clubs were understrength due to holidays, with A & T suffering their worst turn out ever for a league match, due to holidays and other absences.

New secondary registration signing from Stoke, Garry Pearce, made his debut for A & T and raced hard on a very dry, slippery track, with team manager Mike Hack forced to borrow two riders to make the numbers up. The makeshift team put up a spirited fight, with Andy Moody and Dave O'Callaghan scoring well, but needless to say the Gin Pit club were heavily beaten, after the borrowed riders had their 19 points deducted. After adjustment to scores, Scotia pipped Heckmondwike to win the match by 1 point, despite a James Carter maximum score.

Northern Fours League final score: Scotia 47 (43), Heckmondwike 46 (43), Astley & Tyldesley Miners' Welfare / CTA Direct 15 (34). (On track scores in brackets).

Scorers:

Scotia: Alan Smith 14 (plus 1 bonus), Craig Newsome 13, Alan Mackie 10 (1), Andrew McDougall 3 (1), Chic Mackie 3 (1).

Heckmondwike: James Carter 16, Darren Kent 15, Pat Beacock 8 (1), Richard Westcott 4.

Astley & Tyldesley: Garry Pearce 9, Mike Hack 6 (1).  { Guest scores - Andy Moody 11 (1), Dave O'Callaghan 8 (2) }

A & T had just two entrants for the Northern Junior League series, and have lost much ground in their defence of the League title, finishing 5th out of 6 teams on the day. John Nuttall scored a fine 13 points in the U-13 category, with Mike Hack scoring 15 in the Senior Combination category.

Northern Junior League final score: Hull 62, Sheffield 52, Scotia 48, Bury 32, Astley & Tyldesley Miners' Welfare / CTA Direct 28, Tameside 26.