Oldham St Annes 17, Heysham Atoms 9

THE trip to Oldham again proved fruitless, in regard of league points, for the Atoms.
In this tight game the Atoms held the territorial advantage, but as in previous games this season this advantage was not pressed home due to poor handling and wrong options taken in the St Annes’ Red Zone.
The Atoms were always chasing the game, clawing the score back level on three occasions and they scored the try of the game through flying winger Rob Freedman, after some impressive teamwork involving most of the side.
On a heavy pitch it was always going to be about whoever dominated the rucks and here the contest was at its fiercest.
The workload in the area was high intensity, with the tackle count showing some impressive totals with four Atoms players putting in over 30 tackles apiece.
First blood was taken by St Annes after an attack down their right wing was foiled by some excellent scrambling defence by Freedman.
They retained possession and drove to the posts where the scrum half took the one pointer.
This was followed shortly after with a penalty from 30 metres out.
St Annes were playing to their big back and asking a lot of questions of a motivated Atoms defence.
Guy Richardson, making a welcome return to first team football, forced a turnover with an outstanding tackle on a prop five or six stone his senior.
The Atoms worked their way upfield, returning the ball in and around the same gap. The kick on the last was well chased and forced a prop out under the sticks.
Atoms again completed their set and Helme fired over the drop goal to open their account. Hard working centre Andy Garnett brought the scores level at 3-3 with a penalty.
There was very little to choose between the two teams and the Atoms were caught by surprise when St Annes finally allowed their backs into the game.
The defensive line showed a deficiency in matching up the attackers and the centre shot through the gap to post a converted try just before the half time whistle.
There was still time for Ryan Weed to open them up with a neat off-load, wing Lee Morrison making good yards.
The ‘Bomb’ was launched and Brian Gregory claimed the ball but was tackled inches short of the line.
Craig Goodfellow, also making his first appearance of the season, came on at the break, and his forceful style of running lifted the Atoms.
Allen, Woods and McVernon made big yards upfield. McVernon’s tackle had to be made by five St Annes players - such was the power of the drive.
This created gaps out wide and the ball was transferred from one side of the field to the other with spee0d and accuracy.
Winger Rob Freedman took the ball with 35 metres to go and rounded his opposite number.
Unfortunately in the act of scoring he injured himself and took no further part in the action. Garnett again converted and for the third time brought the scores level.
The final quarter of the game was a tense affair with St Annes showing the better nerve, scoring a penalty and a converted try after some sloppy defence by the Atoms’ forwards.
The Atoms still had their chances with Downey and Brooks going close, but their composure in attacking positions let them down with poor execution of the final pass.
Another two points lost is how a disappointed Atoms team felt on their journey home. Rob Freedman took the Man of the Match accolade even though he only completed three-quarters of the game.
Team:

Next Saturday the Atoms return to home action at Trimpell against fellow strugglers West Bank from Widnes, kick-off 2.30pm.

The Alliance team travel to Manchester to take on Langworthy Reds in a division six fixture.
26 October 2001

ATOMS: Brooks, Freedman, Downey, Garnett, Morrison, Helme, Richardson, McVernon, Aldren, Woods, Allen, Shaw, Weed, Res.Goodfellow, Gregory, Hartlebury.