Heysham Atoms 24 - Bamber Bridge 28

Man of the Match: Andy Helme, Michael Hope, Rob Freedman
Tries: Garnet, McVernon, Hope, Hartlebury
Penalties/Conversions: Hope 4
Drop Goals:

A BUMPER Easter crowd at the Trimpell were treated to a fine game of rugby league in this re-arranged league fixture.
A couple of weeks ago the Atoms lost away to Bridge by an eight point margin but felt quietly confident that they could turn this around on their own patch.
Bamber Bridge's side looked a little stronger than the one encountered previously with the pack being beefed up by their experienced duo of loose forward and second row returning.
These two had fine games causing problems with their direct running all afternoon.
From the outset it was evident that this was going to be a tight game and this it proved to be with no side ever getting more than one score ahead.
The lead changed hands on a number of occasions keeping the large support on their toes right through the 80 minutes.
These games are always fiercely fought and one of the highlights of the game was the match up between Simon Brooks and his opposite number.
There was no love lost between them down at Bridge and it did not take long before the claret was flowing from both players such was the ferocity of the tackles.
A bone-hard pitch and a strong swirling wind made conditions a little tricky at times but both sides adapted well with their differing styles of play.
The Bamber Bridge side used the back row to good effect whereas the atoms favoured the more expansive game wider of the rucks.
Bamber Bridge came up with the first score of the afternoon when a completed set had taken them to within two metres of the Atoms line.
A fine Andy Aldren tackle had brought the fifth tackle and it looked as if the Atoms were expecting the kick. In the confusion Bamber's hooker sneaked between two defenders to get them off and running.
Andy Garnett's return to the centres has been a huge boost to Atom's morale and he has the knack of finding the try line when it matters.
Hartlebury and Edwards attacked the narrow side finding Garnett running an exceptional line and he finished off the move by the corner flag and Hope converted.
A penalty from Bridge nudged them back into the lead before another last tackle play undid the Atoms.
A chip through looked to have been covered but the ball took an unexpected bounce and Bamber Bridge's prop reacted the quicker to score a converted try.
The next 15 minutes was the Atoms best period of the game.
They were able to sustain pressure on Bamber's line with some quality defending after working hard on the chase of kicks.
From a drop out from under the sticks Dave McVernon showed how valuable he is to the team with a 40-yard burst down the left wing.
He has good acceleration for a big man and he again scored close to the touchline.
Mike Hope was making the kicks look easy with some very accurate licks for goal.
With half time approaching the Atoms finally got their noses in front for the first time in the game.
Mark Allan, whose work-rate from the wing position does so much for the team, set off on a mazy run into midfield.
Freedman and Hope continued the move before Garnett made the all-important, incisive cut through the defensive line.
With the fullback to beat he laid off a well-times pass to Mike Hope who had followed the move who scored and converted himself to give the Atoms an 18-14 lead at the break.
If the last 15 minutes of the first half belonged to Heysham then the first 15 minutes of the second belonged to Bridge.
They monopolised possession in this period, making good yards and making the Atoms defend their line.
Three sets of six were defended before a penalty was conceded and the two points were taken.
Such a long period without the ball will always pay off for the attacking team.
The Atoms began to make some errors and conceded unnecessary penalties putting themselves under pressure and losing yards in the bargain.
Rob Shaw found himself in the bin for ten minutes for a professional foul giving Bamber the edge in numbers.
This paid off when they scored and recaptured the lead with 20 minutes remaining at 22-18.
The Atoms had seen very little ball in the period and it was time to re-group and throw everything into attack.
Mike Holmes and Andy Helme started to find some room around the play the balls. Their scooting away from half back was now making an impact.
A Hartlebury kick and chase took a wicked bounce between winger and fullback.
The returned Rob Shaw made amends for his earlier indiscretion recovering the ball and settting off on a foot race for the line.
The fullback closed him down but he intelligently laid the ball back inside to captain Hartlebury who shot over the line. Hope made his fourth conversion of the day.
The Atoms were two points up with just over ten minutes to play.
Both sides had put everything into it and it was Bamber who came up with the goods at the death.
Again it came from a last tackle play with their second-row stretching over the line close to the posts.
This was a disappointing end for the Atoms who had contributed well to an excellent advert for thegame of rugby league.

ATOMS: Hope, Freedman, Garnett, Brooks, Allan, Edwards, Holmes, McVernon, Hartlebury, Aldren, Bowman, Shaw, A Helme. Res: C Helme, SImpson, J Pyrah, E Pyrah.