ASTLEY and Tyldesley are Northern League Division One champions for the first time in their history.

Team Green won a title play-off against Stockport to clinch their first top-division championship since their were formed 27 years ago.

The triumph also completed another first as it added to the club's title triumphs in Division Two and Division Three – making them the first club ever to win a hat-trick of championships in the same season.

Team Green, captained by Paul Graham and managed by Lee Phillips in his first season in charge, overcame an early deficit to overhaul Stockport and run out convincing 95-83 winners in the play-off match at Bury last week.

Stockport got off to the best possible start with two early maximum heat wins, to lead 22-17 after four races.

However, A&T took the lead for the first time two races later, with a maximum heat win of their own, from the Kosciecha/ Wlodarczyk pairing.

Another A&T 6-4 was followed by two shared heats, to make the scores close at the interval, with A&T just edging it 46-42.

A&T came out sharper in the second half, with three successive 6-4 wins. A 7-3 heat win to the Holland/Graham pairing in heat 13 put A&T 71-57 ahead and the match was over as a contest.

Three of the next four races were shared, with Stockport taking a consolation 7-3 heat win in heat 16. A&T rounded off the match in fine style, with a well-taken 6-4 from the back by the Kosciecha/ Wlodarczyk pairing in heat 18.

The whole A&T team scored well and rode solidly as a unit. Reece Pollitt, new signing Jakub Kosciecha and Tomasz Wlodarczyk top scored, with excellent back-up from Kyle Holland and Max Evans.

Damian Zareba made a shock return from his back injury and he pulled off two excellent overtakes to win his two races from reserve.

Result: Astley and Tyldesley 95 Stockport 83.

A&T scorers: Reece Pollitt 20 (plus one bonus), Jakub Kosciecha 18 (2), Tomasz Wlodarczyk 18 (1), Kyle Holland 14, Max Evans 12 (2), Damian Zareba 8, Paul Graham 5 (1).