Heysham Atoms 35 - Blackpool Scorpions14

Heysham Atoms recorded their first league win of the season with a convincing victory over third placed Blackpool Scorpions. On a fine, bright, windless day, on an immaculate playing surface at the Trimpell ground they produced a display that they had been threatening for some time. The performance was not without hiccups, when they were put under real pressure just after the break. In this period the Scorpions scored three tries and brought the score back to 17:14 to the Atoms. In recent games the Atoms would have folded from this onslaught but they weathered the storm and came out the other side and finished the stronger.

The Atoms light-weight pack has come in for it's fair share of criticism during their lean spell but on Saturday they set up a wonderful platform for an exciting looking back division. Right from the start it was obvious that the hard work in training was starting to pay dividends. Youngster Liam Hall set the standards in the forwards with an outstanding first 40 minutes. His aggressive running and tackling was giving the Scorpions no end of problems.

Coach Dave Crow had targeted this game as a must-win match and he demanded that all the players responded to his call. He asked for a solid start but what he got was better than that. Within 10 minutes of the start the Atoms had posted their first points on the scoreboard. Mark Allan broke out of defence taking playing up to the halfway line. Andy Aldren looked to take the next ball up but put Dave McVernon into a hole with an excellent pass. McVernon gratefully accepted the space, drawing the full back and passing to winger Andy Garnett. He showed a clean pair of heels beating the cover to score in the corner.

Scorpions have had an excellent start to the season since their promotion last year and have built a side around their strong running forwards. These forwards just could not get into their stride due to some terrier-like Atoms defending with veteran second-rower Gavin Helliwell leading the way. This improved defence was giving the Atoms better field position and it was only a matter of time before the lead was increased.

After a late cry-off saw a re-shuffle in the backs with Lewis Mills moving out to the centre position. He revelled in the extra space and it was he who increased the Atoms lead. He broke the first tackle and sprinted over from 20 metres. Walker converted.

The Scorpions had a period of pressure on the Atoms line including a repeat set of six but all they could come away with was a penalty after some sterling Atoms defence.

Dave McVernon was looking threatening every time he got the ball and this return to form was a boost for all the team. He made a decisive break on the 35 minute mark, hitting the gap well and rounding the full back with considerable ease. He finished off the try with a dive that should have been saved for the swimming pool.

Half Time 16:2 Atoms

At the same stage last week they were 10:2 up against Burtonwood and ended up losing the game. The team talk revolved around this fact and the Atoms were determined not to let it slip again.

The Atoms received possession from the kick-off and took play at full 80 metres with some intelligent drives. On the last stand off Helme slotted over the field goal to further enhance their lead. For the next fifteen minutes the Atoms line came under siege from a fired-up Scorpions side. The Heysham side contributed to this period of pressure by trying to force the pass when safety would have been the better option. In this period the Blackpool side posted three tries and certainly jangled the nerves of the players and spectators alike.

The Atoms had been starved of possession in this spell but they were confident that when they had the ball they could open up the Blackpool defence. The forwards began to take control again gaining some valuable yards. Bryan Cambidge, who has been the Atoms stand-out player all season, was held up over the line but the Blackpool side couldn't hold out on the next play when winger Garnett skipped inside his marker for his second try of the game.

Neil Walker at Hooker was giving the backs an extra yard of space with his fine service of the ball. New look left wing partnership of Pike and Batson impressed with tidy defence and a willingness to provide options in attack.

The Atoms now looked dangerous with every attack as a tiring Scorpions team were dropping off the tackles and leaving some big holes to run in to. Bryan Cambidge took full advantage of this charging over for his fourth try of the season. The introduction of prop Chris Connaughton had maintained the intensity in the forwards and it was he who got the loudest cheer of the day blasting his way over the line on an unstoppable 10 yard drive. Walker again converted bringing to a close this terrific and much needed victory for the Heysham Atoms.

ATOMS: B Cambidge, M Pike, R Batson, L Mills, A Garnett, A Helme, K Hartlebury (Capt), D McVernon, N Walker, L Hall, M Allan, G Helliwell, A Aldren Res: C Connaughton, E Pyrah, R Shaw, M Blessington.