Burtonwood Bridge 28 - Heysham Atoms 16

This very evenly contested encounter was decided just after half-time. The Atoms had turned round 10-2 to the good but knew but knew they would be under pressure having a strong wind now in their faces.
Burtonwood, with the elements at their backs, upped the tempo, especially in defence around the rucks, causing the Atoms to panic and make some silly errors.
This period of 20 minutes brought the Warrington side 24 unanswered points from four converted tries, and an unassailable lead.
The Atoms lost the toss but realised that this was an advantage as they were able to have first use of the weather conditions.
Field position is very important and in the early stages the Atoms were unable to exert the necessary pressure due to the kicking game not being as it should have been. This part of the game improved as the half wore on.
A shuffle round in the pack saw Liam Hall and Lee Harvey starting in the front row. They were up against a hard hitting opposition pack but they laid the platform with some forceful drives. Lewis Mills, at hooker, was controlling the rucks with plenty of space to be found in this area.
A penalty on the quarter-of-an-hour mark put the Atoms into a deserved lead from the trusty boot of stand-off Neil Walker.
The Atoms came back to the danger area being patient, with the ball being kept close to the play the balls. The three-quarters knew that the pack had their hands full and came in to share the workload.
Mark Allan was filling in again on the wing but was prepared to search far and wide in his pursuit of the ball. A series of penalties pushed the Atoms upfield as an over-eager Burtonwood defence was caught offside.
The hardworking second row partnership of Andy Aldren and Gavin Helliwell were gaining some valuable yards. Play was taken to within five metres of Burtonwood's line.
The Atoms had options either side but Mills took the direct route, diving over the try line close to the posts. Walker again converted, giving the Atoms an 8-0 lead which was nothing more than they deserved.
Burtonwood possessed the game's most dangerous runner in the form of their centre. He had to be watched carefully as he threatened to break through on a number of occasions.
An attack down the Atom's left brought Burtonwood their first points when a holding down offence was penalised and the two points gratefully accepted.
The Atoms had to do some serious defending of their line and wee helped by Burtonwood 'coughing up' the ball as they tried to force the pass. This period of pressure was successfully negotiated and they were able to go up field and knock over another penalty, through Walker for a 10-2 lead.
The Heysham side have not been up at half-time on too many occasions this season and there was a relief that this could be their day.
Unfortunately this was not to be as a fired-up Warrington side blew the Atoms away with a clinical display of improved tackling, quick turn-over ball and some exceptional finishing.
The confidence of the Atoms had drained out of the team at an alarming rate, looking for a shadow of the team that performed in the first half.
The over-worked full-back Guy Richardson was being bombarded with kicks and runners but he was more than up to the task. It was only when he was outnumbered that he was unable to impress.
The four converted tries for Burtonwood had helped them overtake the Atoms first half lead and put them in front by 26-10.
The Atoms could have just folded completely at this stage but somehow regained their feet to have another crack at Burtonwood's defence.
Elliot Pyrah and Bryan Cambidge looked most likely to break the shackles and they combined to put Guy Richardson in a hole 30 metres from the line.
He outpaced the cover, scoring under the posts for a converted try and giving the Atoms just a glimmer of hope.
This hope soon evaporated as the Atoms were reduced to 12 men, with eight minutes remaining, after Helme was dispatched to the sidelines after an altercation around the tackle situation.
From the resultant penalty Burtonwood took the two points and with it the game.

Atoms: G Richardson, G Winder, A Garnett, B Cambidge, M Allan, N Walker, A Helme, L Hall, L Mills, L Harvey, Aldren, G Helliwell, R Batson. Res E Pyrah, D McVernon, C Connaughton, M Blessington.