ASTLEY and Tyldesley Cycle Speedway Club beat reigning champions Sheffield Stars 100-79 in their eagerly-anticipated North and Scotland League Division One fixture at Gin Pit last Sunday.

The home team got off to a flying start with four 7-3 maximum heat wins in the opening seven races, to open up a 16-point lead.

Sheffield rallied in the second half, taking two 7-3 heat wins, but A&T recorded another three 7-3 heat wins, to extend their winning margin to 21 points.

A&T captain Reece Pollitt celebrated his England call-up with an excellent performance, losing only to a machine failure when leading his first ride. He recorded the fastest time of the day, 41.25 seconds, in heat 15.

Pawel Idziorek and Pierce Bacon turned in top performances for A&T, as all top six riders won races. It was a hard-fought, but sporting match between two good teams.

A&T scorers: Pawel Idziorek 21 (plus 1 bonus), Reece Pollitt 18 (3), Pierce Bacon 17 (1), Steve Harris 14 (1), Tom Morrissey 11 (2), Paul Graham 11, Joel Partington 6 (1), Duncan Whalley 2.

Sheffield exacted revenge for their Division One defeat with a convincing 87-61 win in the Division Two match.

The match was close for the first six races, with Sheffield holding a 30-29 lead.

Then they took control, winning eight of the remaining nine heats to run out winners.

A&T scorers: Frank White 15, Tom Morrissey 13, Duncan Whalley 13, Owen Simcock 8, Harriet Belt 6 (1), Oscar Belt 6.

A&T ran out emphatic 127-57 winners of the Division Three match.

The hosts’ Levi Edwards and Frank White both raced unbeaten in the under-10 and u13 categories respectively, while six-year-old Lincoln Davies enjoyed his best match to date, with an excellent 12 points score.

A&T scorers: Levi Edwards 16, Frank White 16, Lincoln Davies 12, Alex Lawless 12, Ted Woods 11, Jake Mulholland 10, Oscar Belt 10, Dylan Field 8, Oliver Fox-Wingfield 8, Harriet Belt 7, Lillie Field 6, Chloe Bassett 6, Jasmine Lawless 5.

Astley and Tyldesley also contested the Regional Round Two Little League and British Youth and Junior League (BYJL) matches at Sheffield on Saturday.

A&T finished second in both matches, behind Sheffield, but ahead of Bury and Hull.

Alex Lawless and Levi Edwards finished second in the Little League u8 and u10 Grand Prix ‘A’ finals respectively, while Frank White and Duncan Whalley won the BYJL u12 and u14 Grand Prix ‘A’ finals respectively.

Little League North and Scotland Regional Round Two result: Sheffield 41, Astley and Tyldesley 33, Bury 22, Hull 14.

A&T scorers: Levi Edwards 14, Alex Lawless 12, Lincoln Davies 7.

British Youth and Junior League: North and Scotland Regional Round Two result: Sheffield 85, Astley and Tyldesley 40, Hull 12, Bury 11.

A&T scorers: Frank White 16, Duncan Whalley 15, Chloe Bassett 9.