SECOND-placed Astley & Tyldesley took on defending league champions Edinburgh in a Northern League fixture at Gin Pit on Sunday.

Both teams were desperate for a win to keep their title hopes alive and a very hard fought Division 1 match took place, with numerous incidents.

Edinburgh took an early lead when A&T riders picked up race exclusions in the first two heats. A 7-3 heat win by the Max Evans / Reece Pollitt pairing in heat 7 put A&T in front for the first time.

From then on, the home team took control and pulled away to run out 98-77 winners. Marcin Jakubiak and Reece Pollitt led the way for the home team, losing only to Edinburgh's best rider Mikey Hewitson.

Northern League Division 1 match result Astley & Tyldesley 98 Edinburgh 77.

A&T scorers: Marcin Jakubiak 22 (plus 1 bonus), Reece Pollitt 20 (3), Max Evans 18 (1), Kyle Holland 14 (2), Ciaran Collins 12 (1), Tomasz Wlodarczyk 10 (1), Mick Knowles 2.

The Division 2 match was less eventful, as second placed A&T took an early lead and were 7 points up after four races. Edinburgh rallied and kept the scores

close in the middle of the match, before A&T pulled away with four second half heat wins, to run out comfortable 81-67 winners. Max Evans raced unbeaten

for A&T, with Emily Burgess losing only to Edinburgh's best rider, Lewis Foxley.

Northern League Division 2 match result

Astley & Tyldesley 81 Edinburgh 67

A&T scorers: Emily Burgess 16 (3), Mick Knowles 16 (2), Max Evans 16, Matthew Snell 15, Ben Forshaw 8, Charlie Burgess 6, Tom Morrissey 3, Jack Murray 1.

A&T maintained their 100% record at the top of the table in Division 3, with a convincing 80-26 win. Tom Morrissey raced unbeaten in the u-10 section,

with Charlie Burgess joint top scoring in the u-13 category.

Northern League Division 3 match result

Astley & Tyldesley 80 Edinburgh 26

A&T scorers: Tom Morrissey 16, Aiden Green 15, Charlie Burgess 14, Duncan Whalley 13, Daniel Johnson 8, Jack Murray 8, Sabrina Evans 6.

A&T had two riders competing in the Joe Guy Memorial meeting at Wolverhampton, as a tribute to the young East Park rider tragically killed whilst

cycle training on the road earlier this summer. Frank White rode in the u-10 match and scored a solid 9 points, winning one of his races.

10 years old John White rode in the u-16 match, putting in an excellent performance as the youngest rider, to finish joint fifth after scoring 14 points.

Next weekend sees a double header of racing at Gin Pit. On Saturday, Astley & Tyldesley stages the 4th and final round of the HSBC Elite Grand Prix series,

featuring the sport's top riders. The Junior match starts at 12 noon, followed by the Senior match at 2 pm. On Sunday, A&T take on Hull in a Northern

League fixture, first race at 2 pm. For further details, visit the club's website at www.astleycyclespeedway.org.uk