Bank Quay Bulls 70 - Heysham Atoms 6

HEYSHAM Atoms were totally outplayed in their first away league fixture of the season.

A poor start to the first half that yielded three tries was just the beginning they did not want and they found it difficult from this point onwards.
Late cry-offs disrupted preparations but the Atoms felt they could put into practice all the hard work they had done in training during the week.
This was not to be the case and at time in the first half it was men against boys.
Bank Quay have steadily progresses through the leagues over the last couple of seasons and it was they who possessed the game's two outstanding individuals in the backs to compliment a big, aggressive pack of forwards.
The scrum half had speed to burn, especially from a standing start and the fullback's footwork bringing the ball away from telling kicks was outstanding.
Bank Quay's policy in the opening exchanges was the drive through rather than go round with excellent support play.
The Atoms just could not get a foothold in the game and they were 18 points down with as many minutes played.
The Atoms forwards had a torrid afternoon against much larger opposition but they never faltered from their task.
Elliott Pyrah and Rob Shaw were always eager to take the ball up to the opposition but that elusive clean break was difficult to find.
A further Bank Quay try that was a results of outstanding support running and passing took them to the break 22-0 to the good.
The shock of the first half performance was felt deeply by the players and they knew they had to find something to repay coach Dave Crow's faith in them.
Two inspired substitutions lifted the Atoms, especially in the defensive stakes.
Gavin Helliwell, who only played two games last season due to a repeat broken nose, bolstered the pack no end and St Martin's student Chris Connaughton showed what a prospect he will be once he gets his match sharpness.
The Atoms were first on the board after good kick and chase work had forced an error. A neat move off the back of the resultant scrum between Hartlebury and Helme put winger Mark Allan away down the left wing and he had enough legs to finish close to the sticks.
Stand-off Neil Walker confidently converted.
The Atoms defensive line had improved its speed and the target area had moved a lot lower on the opposition forwards especially.
The hunger had returned and they looked like a side that could compete.
Simon Ledwick, Simon Brooks and Bryan Cambidge had been starved of possession in the first half were now beginning to see some of the ball.
The sets were being completed but any loose kicking was being punished severely by great yardage returned by Bank Quay's fullback.
One kick into the right hand corner was chased well by four Atoms defenders but he skipped and shimmeyed his way out of trouble not allowing the Atoms to exert any kind of pressure.
New forwards Lee Harvey and Shaun Humphries have been finding their feet in recent week and they were joined by debutant Stuart Cochrane in an unrecognisable pack from last season.
The increased tempo by the Atoms could not be maintained as the Warrington side finished the stronger.
The last 15 minutes was spent virtually all on the Atoms line and seven further points were added in this time through a converted try and a last gasp drop goal.

ATOMS: Richardson, Ledwick, Brooks, Cambidge, Allan, Walker, Helme, McVernon, Pyrah, Humphries, Harvey, Shaw, Hartlebury, Crow, Connaughton, Helliwell, Cochrane.