Heysham Atoms 26 - Folly Lane (Swinton) 28

The Atoms' North West Counties Division 2 league season got off to an entertaining start though they narrowly missing out on the points after a hard working performance at Lancaster & Morecambe College on Saturday.
Three teenagers -Neil Walker, Russell Burkitt and Martin Pike were all given their league debuts alongside new recruit, former Vale of Lune player, Mike Hope at full-back.
All responded well to the responsibility and certainly gives cause for optimism for the forthcoming matches.
Folly Lane were relegated from Division One last term and have rebuilt a lively team around the coaching skills of Salford City Red star Paul Southern.
The highlight of the game was the performance of Rob Freedman on the Atoms right wing.
He bagged all the Atoms five tries showing exceptional finishing skills alongside his pace.
The performance of his centre Simon Brooks should not be underestimated, timing his passes to perfection and drawing on the defenders as required.
The Atoms started well and scored within 10 minutes through Rob Freedman. Mike Hope converted.
Folly had started the game quietly but increased the tempo as they entered the second quarter of the game with their hooker causing no end of problems for Atoms defenders.
The Swinton side hit a purple patch scoring three converted tries and a penalty in a devastating 12 minute period that rocked the Atoms.
Half time couldn't come soon enough for the Atoms and a time to regroup and reorganise their defensive pattern.
At 20-6 down the Atoms could feel quite relieved that they were only three scores adrift as it could have easily been more.
The Atoms knew they had to tighten up around the rucks and take the ball up with a bit more gusto into the tackles.
This they improved upon with Dave McVernon gaining some unwanted attention from an angry Folly pack of forwards.
The Atoms felt that their match winner was out wide on the right wing and played intelligently to find the space for him with the distribution skills of Walker, Hartlebury and Helme vital.
Aldren and Shaw worked tirelessly all afternoon against a competent Folly Lane defence.
Freedman only needed a sniff of any space and he was away. In a 15 minute period he scored three more tries all from very similar positions.
One of these tries was converted by Hope to bring the scores level at 20 all with 15 minutes to play.
The Atoms had worked really hard to get back into the game and must have thought that they could push on and win the game.
Unfortunately the Swinton side did not read the script and it was they who became the hungrier to claim the points with two unconverted tries.
The Atoms just wouldn't lie down and accept defeat and Freedman again rounded his marker to add a further try to his tally.
He went close to the dead ball line but just managed to stay in the field of play to make the conversion from an easier angle.
Hope converted giving the Atoms a chance of victory.
The last few minutes saw the Atoms throw everything into attack but the Folly Lane line held firm and they took the points.

ATOMS: Hope, Birkett, Cambidge, Brooks, Freedman, Walker, Helme, McVernon, Gregory, Aldren, Woods, Shaw, Hartlebury.
Res: Pyrah, Pike, Weed, Dutton.