Heysham Atoms 18 - Folly Lane 30

Trys: Russell Birkett, Lewis Mills, Brian Cambidge, Dave McVernon
Goals: Walks (2)

Men of the Match
1st Lewis Mills
2nd Rob Shaw
3rd Brian Cambidge

OVER the last month or so Folly Lane have really found some form beating Ashton Bears on their own patch and promotion hopefuls Oldham St Annes, home and away.

This has blown the second promotion spot wide open and although they still have to play champions elect, Bank Quay Bulls, twice before the end of the season, they can still be optimistic about playing Division One rugby next season.
The Atoms knew the task ahead and had worked hard to sort out their own indifferent form.
The influential Lewis Mills slotted into his accustomed stand-off role which gave the three-quarters a much more balanced look.
An excellent first half performance by the Heysham side had got their noses in front at the break.
Unfortunately the second half was all Folly as the Atoms durable defence was tested to the full and was found wanting.
The alarming thing was the speed at which the confidence of the first half was drained from the Atoms players.
The opening exchanges were fast and furious and this set the tone for the whole game. Both sides got on the scoreboard early with Folly slotting over a penalty and within five minutes the Atoms had replied with a Lewis Mills try.
Good momentum was gained by a lively set of Atoms forwards. Mills shimmied his way in between two defenders for his seventh try of the season.
The conversion failed but the Atoms were where they wanted to be in terms of a good start to the match.
Folly possessed a tidy set of backs and were prepared to release them at any opportunity. Russ Birkett on the right wing had to have his wits about him bundling his opposite number into touch, close to the corner flag.
Full-back Randal Raines' laid back style masks a committed and talented player. His fielding of the high balls, his runs out of defence and his tackling were of the highest order, giving the rest of the team a target to hit when coming out of defence.
His scoop away from the danger area drew a penalty from a high shot. Lewis Mills made a break and found Andy Garnett on his shoulder. He linked with his support runners but good scrambling defence from Folly prevented a score.
These two were to combine shortly after when Mills dropped on a loose pass and flicked a neat pass to Garnett who shot 50 yards up the right touchline.
A deep kick from Hartlebury on the last forced an error by Folly's winger. The Atoms used the scrum to launch an attack to the left with back realigning on the right. Fast hands down the line were well executed and winger Russ Birkett finished off the move in style giving the Atoms an 8-2 lead.
The final 10 minutes of the half was played in the Atoms' final quarter of the field. Folly were controlling possession well and a dangerous kick into the try area was well recovered by prop Rob Shaw.
He still had a lot of work to do to get the ball back into the field of play and prevent a goal line drop out. He did this admirably even with the attentions of three would-be tacklers.
Andy Garnett foiled another attack stealing the ball in a one-on-one tackle, but the persistent pressure on the defence was taking its toll.
Brian Cambidge got hurt in a tackle and was out of the line when Folly's stand-off made a clean break. This breach added more pressure to an already stretched Atoms defence and Folly's wide running second row blasted over meaing they were only 8-6 down at the break.
The Atoms needed to repeat the form of the first half but looked decidedly edgy straight from the kick-off. Folly began to utilise the narrow side to good effect taking play to within five metres of the try line.
Sloppy defending allowed the acting half-back to force his way over the whitewash. A penalty to the Swinton outfit soon followed with the Atoms still waiting to get their first possession of the half.
When they finally got their hands on the ball it brought the scores back level at 12 all. Gavin Helliwell made good yards with an impressive drive. Andy Aldren drew his man on the next play and Dave McVernon sprinted 30 yards to score wide out on the left.
The normally consistent Neil Walker was having an off day with his goal kicking, failing to add the extras.
The next 25 minutes of the game all belonged to Folly scoring three converted tries, all as a direct result of an Atoms unforced error.
They had been building in confidence as the half wore on and some excellent handling brought the Swinton side their reward.
These scores had pushed the game beyond reach at 30-12, but the Atoms kept battling to the end. Pyrah and Harvey came on to lift the Atoms' spirits and to liven up a flagging set of forwards.
Chances were limited but Cambidge only needs a sniff of the line and he's away. He scored close to the posts after a typical 20-yard burst knocking over two defenders on his way to the line.
Finally Walker got his account going with the extra two points. Unfortunately this was the last highlight of a disappointing second half performance for the Atoms.

ATOMS: R Raines, R Birkett, A Garnett, B Cambidge, S Ledwick, L Mills, K Hartlebury (capt), D McVernon, N Walker, R Shaw, M Allan, G Helliwell, A Aldren. Res: G Winder, C Helme, L Harvey, E Pyrah.