Astley & Tyldesley Miners' Welfare Cycle Speedway visited Birmingham for a Midlands / North League Division 1 match. As is customary this season, A & T had four first choice riders unavailable, and went down to a 95-81 defeat.

On a very fast, well prepared track, A & T's Remi Burchardt raced to a 20 points maximum score on his first appearance at this track. Warren Mee chipped in with five second places, but skipper Chris Finnigan was in the wars, sustaining a knee injury when brought down in heat 12. A more experienced Birmingham side showed greater solidity and deserved their victory on the day. Mark Winwood lost only to Burchardt, with the others all scoring well. The match was excellently refereed by Phil Widdas.

Midlands/North League Division 1 match score:

Birmingham 95 Astley & Tyldesley MWC 81.

Birmingham scorers:

Mark Winwood 17 (2), Darren Bullock 14 (2), Marcus Wadhams 14 (1), Andy James 14, Chris Timms 12, Bob Prince 10 (1), Matt Davis 9 (1), Rob Absalom 5.

A & T scorers:

Remi Burchardt 20, Warren Mee 15, Chris Finnigan 11 (2), Jeff Radcliffe 8 (3), Ewan Tulloch 8, Mike Hack 8, Damien Hack 7 (1), Mark Taylor 4.

Referee - Phil Widdas.

It was a similar story in the Combination match, as A & T put up a spirited show, before going down 68-51. Young Chris Timms raced unbeaten for Birmingham, as did Matt Davis. For A & T, Ewan Tulloch dropped just 1 point to Davis, with good shows from Mark Keirl and George Hughes.

Midlands/North League Combination Division match score:

Birmingham 'B' 68 Astley & Tyldesley MWC 'B' 51.

Birmingham scorers:

Chris Timms 15 (1), Liam Wadhams 12 (2), Mark Fletcher 9 (1), Daniel Dempsey 9 (1), Matt Davis 8, Phil Widdas 7 (1), Jack Capenhurst 5, Daniel Baker 3.

A & T scorers:

Ewan Tulloch 11, Mark Keirl 10, George Hughes 9 (1), Dylan Radcliffe 7, Roy Heslop 5 (1), Maurice Radcliffe 4, Charlie Keirl 3, Ryan King 2.

Referee - Rob Absalom.