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Astley & Tyldesley entertained Bury in the Northern
League derby match at Gin Pit on Thursday evening. A very tight, tactical match
took place, with the lead changing hands and no more than 2 points separating
the teams up to Heat 10. With the scores level, that race proved to be crucial,
as Bury's Paul Dyson received an exclusion after twice forcing Tomasz Wlodarczyk
very wide as A & T's top man attempted to pass round the outside. Wlodarczyk
and Garry Pearce combined for a 7-2 heat win in the re-run over Bury captain
Neil Howarth. Two drawn races followed before A & T took a 6-4 heat win to
the Pearce and Warren Mee pairing over Dyson and John Whiting. A & T
clinched the match with a 5-4 heat win in heat 14, after Tom Doyle was excluded
for crossing the inside edge as he tried to pass Damien Hack. Wlodarczyk was
excluded for cutting across Dyson too sharply off the start in the last race,
but A & T's Frank Finnigan held off a strong challenge off the start from
Dyson to win the re-run and seal a 77-70 victory.
In a very close and sporting derby match, the outcome of
heat 10 proved crucial, as A & T were able to control the match once they
had opened up a five points lead. This was the only maximum heat win in a very
tactical encounter. Finnigan was again in excellent form for A & T, with
excellent support from Pearce, Wlodarczyk and Mee, with Hack securing four vital
third places. Bury scored solidly with five riders winning races, and they can
feel well pleased with their contribution to a very competitive match under the
Gin Pit floodlights. Howarth and Scott Jarman both won two races each for the
visitors.
This win keeps A & T at the top of the Northern
League, having completed their matches. Tameside are four points behind, with
three matches remaining and Bury in third place.
Northern League match result:
Astley & Tyldesley Miners' Welfare Club / CTA Direct
77 Bury / Pedalsport 70
A & T scorers:
Frank Finnigan 17 (plus 1 bonus), Garry Pearce 15 (2),
Tomasz Wlodarczyk 15, Warren Mee 13, Damien Hack 9 (2), Jeff Radcliffe 8.
Bury scorers:
Scott Jarman 15, Neil Howarth 13 (1), Tom Doyle 11, Paul
Dyson 10 (1), Ben Scranage 10 (1), John Whiting 8, Chris Parrish 3.
Referee - Alan Farrell.
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