ASTLEY and Tyldesley have qualified for the National Cycle Speedway Cup Grand Final for the first time in their 27-year history by becoming Northern champions.

They won the regional final at their home at Gin Pit track by coming out on top in a three-way battle with Stockport and Bury which saw them edge out Stockport by just three points.

At the end of the first round of eight races the scores were A&T 25 Bury 22 Stockport 21.

Bury fell behind in the next round of races as A&T stretched their lead to go into the interval six points ahead of Stockport.

The margin was still the same after the third round of races but A&T’s comfortable lead was reduced to three points with three races remaining.

Kyle Holland and Reece Pollitt won the next two races for A&T to seal victory with one race remaining, the final score Astley and Tyldesley 95, Stockport 92, Bury 78.

n A&T scorers: Reece Pollitt 16, Kyle Holland 13, Mick Knowles 13, Lee Phillips 13, Mark Grantham 12, Max Evans 10, Emily Burgess 10, Ciaran Collins 8.