Astley & Tyldesley took on Midlands rivals Sandwell in the opening match of the Midlands/North League Division 1 at Gin Pit on Sunday. A & T took the lead in heat 1 and held it until heat 5. From then on the visitors took control of the match, and pulled away to win a hard fought encounter, by 98-79.

A & T certainly didn't enjoy the best of fortune, with Remi Burchardt shedding a chain when leading heat 8, and Chris Finnigan in the wars with several heavy falls and twice being excluded. European Champion Damian Zareba showed all his class and raced unbeaten, with Burchardt winning three races and Frank Finnigan always in the thick of the action. However, Sandwell were a much more solid and compact team, with all eight riders competitive, and they consistently took the points from A & T's tail-end riders. Jack Hibberd lost only to Zareba in heat 1, whilst Tony Bowen raced unbeaten from the number 8 slot.

Midlands/North League Division 1 match result:

Astley & Tyldesley MWC 79:

Damian Zareba 19 (plus 1 bonus); Remi Burchardt 14, Frank Finnigan 13 (2), Warren Mee 11, Chris Finnigan 6 (1), Jeff Radcliffe 6, Gavin Kennedy 5, Ewan Tulloch 5.

Sandwell 98:

Jack Hibberd 18 (1), Paul Share 16, Jamie Ball 12 (2), Phil Hemming 12 (1), Tom Hibberd 11 (2), Tony Bowen 11 (1), Ivan Darby 10 (2), Wayne Chattin 8 (2).

Referee - Alan Farrell.

Sandwell raced to an easy 79-41 victory in the Combination match, albeit with half the team being of 1st teamers, whilst A & T fielded a completely separate 2nd team. The Balls, the Hibberds and Russ Evans all raced unbeaten for Sandwell.

Midlands/North League Division 1 Combination match result:

Astley & Tyldesley MWC 'B' 41:

Roy Heslop 7 (1), Tom Hall 7, Mike Hack 6, Maurice Radcliffe 6, Becky Heslop 5, Charlie Keirl 4 (1), John Nuttall 3, Dylan Radcliffe 3.

Sandwell 'B' 79:

Tom Hibberd 15 (1), David Ball 14 (2), Lee Smith 13 (1), Russ Evans 12 (4), Jamie Ball 12, Jack Hibberd 11 (1), Matthew Smith 2.

Referee - Alan Farrell.

Astley & Tyldesley are staging club training nights every Tuesday, starting at 7 pm, at the Astley & Tyldesley Miners' Welfare Club, Meanley Road, Gin Pit, Astley. Newcomers are welcome for a free trial, with bikes and helmets available for hire.