ASTLEY & Tyldesley opened the North & Scotland League season with a marathon bill of racing at Gin Pit on Sunday. A&T won all three divisions last year, but fielded much changed line ups, as part of the club's policy this year to blood their young talent in all three teams, so as not to stifle their development.

In the day's only Division 1 match, A&T and Edinburgh fought out a real thriller, before the visitors took the spoils with a narrow 91-88 win. Reece Pollitt and Pawel Idziorek

were outstanding for the home team, with promoted youngsters Matt Snell, John White and Emily Burgess racing well against a vastly experienced Edinburgh team.

North & Scotland League Division 1 result

Astley & Tyldesley 88 Edinburgh 91

A&T scorers: Reece Pollitt 21, Pawel Idziorek 20 (plus 2 bonus), Matt Snell 15 (1), Steve Harris 14 (3), John White 10, Emily Burgess 8, Mark Grantham dnr.

In the Division 2 match, Edinburgh conceded 49 penalty points for fielding two ineligible riders. Despite this, A&T's youngsters put in a great showing to "win on the track" by 23

points, to run out 135-63 winners. World u-16 Girls Champion, Emily Burgess, raced unbeaten, with solid scores from all her team mates.

North & Scotland League Division 2 result

Astley & Tyldesley 135 Edinburgh 63

A&T scorers: John White 16 (2), Tom Morrissey 15 (3), Emily Burgess 15 (1), Mark Grantham 14, Charlie Burgess 12, Duncan Whalley 10, Frank White 4 (2).

A&T rode to a big win, 110-10, in the Division 3 match. Duncan Whalley and Frank White both raced unbeaten in the u-13 and u-10 matches respectively.

North & Scotland League Division 3 result

Astley & Tyldesley 110 Edinburgh 10

A&T scorers: Frank White 16, Duncan Whalley 16, Lucy Grantham 14, Oscar Belt 13, Lewis Skitterall 12, Harriet Belt 10, Levi Edwards 9, Stephen Warn 8, Blake Jeffery-Leyland 8, Myles Grantham 4.

Next up were two matches against Sheffield, as the second part of the double header. In the Division 2 match, Sheffield took the lead in heat 1 and never lost the lead after that, to run out 80-70 winners. Captain Mark Grantham was best for A&T, but the third match of the day for both John White and Emily Burgess, on the opening day of the season, proved to be a tall task.

North & Scotland League Division 2 result

Astley & Tyldesley 70 Sheffield 80

A&T scorers: Mark Grantham 18, Emily Burgess 14, John White 13 (4), Tom Morrissey 13, Charlie Burgess 6 (1), Duncan Whalley 5 (1), Frank White 1.

Sheffield gave defending champions A&T a good run in the Division 3 match, before A&T ran out 101-74 winners. Frank White raced unbeaten in the u-10s match, whilst Duncan Whalley

lost once in the u-13s match.

North & Scotland League Division 3 result

Astley & Tyldesley 101 Sheffield 74

A&T scorers: Frank White 16, Duncan Whalley 15, Oscar Belt 13, Levi Edwards 13, Lucy Grantham 11, Stephen Warn 9, Blake Jeffery-Leyland 9, Myles Grantham 8, Harriet Belt 7.

Reece Pollitt took a fine 3rd place in the prestigious Dash Trophies u-23 Individual at Wednesfield on Saturday. Reece scored 17 points, as home rider Brandon Whetton took the overall win.

Reece went on to score 11 points in the Senior individual, won by Birmingham's Chris Timms. Steve Harris scored 13 points in the Veterans individual, which was won by Birmingham's Mark Winwood.