IN many ways this season has been plagued by the poor attendance of junior and senior riders alike, but a good turnout at Stockport last week turned the Manchester Junior League around in Bury's favour.

The event started with Bury one match point behind the home side, Stockport, but with a two-race point advantage - meaning the visitors had to win to secure the title.

The Young Comets set about the task in hand with under-10s duo, Alex Devon and Alex McDougal, making a bright start with 14 points each.

Stockport rallied in the under-13s by sheer weight of numbers with seven riders to Bury's three. Liam Burke and John Miladinovic scored 13 each and Robin Yang added nine to the night's total.

It was in the under-16s that Bury dominated and victory was achieved. Chris Dyson scored a brilliant 16-point maximum, Kristian Ramsden 14, Michael Collins 11, Ryan O'Shea 10 and Kevin Yang nine.

The first part of the job was done with 133 points on the track to Stockport's 97 and third-placed Astley's 25. On the countback for the championship, where only the top five scorers overall in each of the six rounds count for the final tally, Bury were confirmed as the winners with 71 race points against Stockport's 60 and Astley's 16.

The action was thick and fast at the ninth annual Ken Graham Memorial Trophy at Goshen.

Wednesfield-based Pole, Marcin Sczymanski, was superb with four race wins to take the top spot with 16 points. Terry Norman, of Stockport, prevented a Polish clean sweep by winning a three-man run-off for runner-up spot with Sheffield's Darius Pilas in third.

Bury's challenge just never materialised, with Neil Howarth scoring 11 and Ben Scranage 8.

The Northern Fours and Junior League at Heckmondwike the following day was marred by continuous rainfall. The only Bury high spot was young Alexander Devon, who retained his vice-like grip on the under-10s grand prix with a superb 16-point maximum. Alex McDougal added eight but, in a poor fours match, Bury finished last.

The first team are away at Edinburgh on Sunday.