ASTLEY & Tyldesley cycle speedway club travelled to Sandwell for their Midlands/North League Division 2 encounter without the injured Mark Wylie and Mike Hack.

A&T drafted in former riders Steve Mills and Lee Wood for their first matches in five and seven years respectively, along with debutant Gary Nuttall.

Sandwell are the current Division 2 champions and they showed a much less experienced A & T no mercy, as the Gin Pit outfit suffered their heaviest ever defeat in this League, going down 102-48. Mills was A & T's only race winner, but he added to A & T's woes when suffering a heavy fall third time out and suffered a broken rib which ruled him out of his last two races.

On Saturday the club host the 11th annual Astley & Tyldesley Festival meeting with 46 entries. Racing starts at 2 pm.

with the Junior event, followed by the Senior event at 4 pm. Spectators are always welcome to watch the racing, with admission and car parking free. The racing takes place at the Astley & Tyldesley Miners' Welfare Club, Meanley Road, Gin Pit, Astley.

Mike Hack

Astley & Tyldesley Cycle Speedway Club Secretary

Tel. 01942 515341.