Astley & Tyldesley made the short trip to Stockport for Sunday's opening Northern League match of the season. Hail showers and strong winds made conditions unpleasant, but the track stood up well. Stockport won last year's Northern League, ahead of A & T, and Stockport took first blood this year by beating A & T 96 - 71.

A & T supplied the rider of the match in skipper Tomasz Wlodarczyk (pictured), who won all his five races to score a maximum 20 points. He had great support from Darek Kurkowski and Remi Burchardt, but Stockport's greater strength in depth proved decisive as they took the victory.

Northern League match result:

Stockport 96 Astley & Tyldesley 71.

Stockport: Terry Norman 17, Chris Eaton 16 (plus 1 bonus), Steve Ward 16, Trevor Hulton 13 (2), Ian Clark 10 (5), Paul Ogden 10 (2), Brian Eaton 8 (2), Warren Mee 6 (2).

A & T: Tomasz Wlodarczyk 20, Darek Kurkowski 18, Remi Burchardt 17, Mike Hack 7, Adam Phillips 6, Lee Phillips 3.

Referee - Jeff Radcliffe.

Stockport also took the win in the Combination Division match, 96 - 68, after A & T conceded 44 penalty points.

Northern Combination Division match result:

Stockport 'B' 96 Astley & Tyldesley 'B' 68.

Stockport: Dylan Radcliffe 12, Ben Higham 9 (1), Matt Lush 8, Daniel Thomson 7 (1), Ali Lam 7 (1), Jeff Radcliffe 6, Jake Read 3.

A & T: Tomasz Wlodarczyk 16, Darek Kurkowski 14 (2), Remi Burchardt 13 (3), Mike Hack 13, Adam Phillips 8 (1), Stefan Whitelegg 4.