Langworthy 14 - Heysham Atoms 21

Trys: Chris Helme, Dave McVernon, Andy Garnet
Goals: Neil Walker (4)
Drop Goals: Neil Walker

Men of the Match:
1st Neil Walker
2nd Andy Garnet
3rd Liam Hall

HEYSHAM Atoms progressed to the next round of the North West Counties Cup with an excellent result against Langworthy from the division above.

Once the Atoms had overcome a sticky opening 15 minutes, the result was never really in doubt as a confident Atoms side took control of the game with the forwards collectively having their best 80 minutes of the season.
The result was a little unexpected as the Atoms had six regulars unavailable due to injury or work commitments but it showed what a bit of confidence can do to the squad with a fourth win on the trot.

The Atoms won the toss and elected to play up the slight slope and against the wind. They knew this would be tough but they felt that if they could hold their own for the first 40 then they were definitely in with a chance.
Straight from the kick-off Dave McVernon fielded the ball in the dead ball area and set off on a 30-yard run. This was something he did consistently well all afternoon.

The first set of drives had given them confidence but it showed that they would struggle to maintain field position due to the strong wind which was affecting the kicking game. Langworthy too had made good opening yards and caught the Atoms flat-footed on the last when they elected for the power play. They created the overlap and the winger posted the first score wide out on the right wing.

A shell-shocked Atoms fell further behind to a similar score, in the same area, soon after the first, but this one was scored nearer the posts giving an easier conversion and a 10-0 lead. The Atoms believed that forwards held the key and they persisted in this area and it was they who brought the Atoms back into contention. A couple of penalties in the Atoms favour helped them to force their way upfield.

Greg Sykes returned to the side after a six-week lay-off and he slotted into the loose forward role. He and Hartlebury soon renewed their partnership at the back of the scrum combining to send McVernon over the top of two would-be tacklers for the Atoms' first score. Walker made light work of the conditions with a well struck conversion.

Young prop forward Liam Hall has found some real form and proved to be a handful for the worthy players all game. He was first up for drives and put himself about in defence in an outstanding all-round game. The backs were not to be outdone and although most of their early workload was sharing the drives with the forwards, they looked sharp when they got the chance.

Rory Batson and Andy Garnett at full-back looked most likely to open up the defence as the outside centre channel looked vulnerable for Langworthy. A snappy handling move involving Helme and Batson created space for Garnett to exploit and he swerved round a last gasp tackle from the full-back for a converted try to give the Atoms the lead for the first time at 12-10.

A penalty kick from Walker extended the lead before Hartlebury fired up a 'bomb' on Langworthy's right winger. Hall chased hard and put enough pressure on the catcher to knock the ball out of his grasp. Chris Helme had put himself in a great position and mopped up the error to pick up the ball and drive himself over the line for his first try of the season.

A stop-start last 10 minutes was littered with errors and penalties which certainly wasn't a reflection on what had gone before. Langworthy brought themselves within one score with a penalty kick right in front of the sticks but the Atoms led 18-12 at half-time. The second half was a tight affair with defences well on top with the Atoms looking most likely to break the deadlock. Mark Allan found some room in the left centre channel but good scrambling defence or an Atoms' error relieved the pressure.

Walker swapped penalties with his opposite number before he took the Atoms two scores clear with a well taken drop goal. Although the final quarter of the game was scoreless the Atoms were always able to come away from their line using their impressive forwards. A better kick-and-chase game was employed with winger Birkett forcing a couple of goal line dropouts. Another Walker drop goal just failed to make the target but it meant they were able to play in the right areas of the field.

Due to the unavailabilities, the fringe players of Chris Helme, Lee Harvey and Mark Blessington came in and got more game time on the field. All can feel proud of their efforts and will give the coach a few headaches for the selection of the starting line up for next Saturday. One or two unsavoury incidents, instigated by Langworthy, tended to spoil an excellent game of rugby league, as the game drew to a close.

The Atoms lads can now feel very confident on the back of four straight victories going into next week's league clash against leaders Bank Quay from Warrington. They are as yet unbeaten and are averaging a staggering 50 points a game from their 10 played so far.

Heysham Atoms: A Garnett, R Birkett, R Batson, M Allan, J Pyrah, A Helme, K Hartlebury, D McVernon, N Walker, L Harvey, L Hall, A Aldren, G Sykes. Res: M Blessington, C Helme.

1963 Oldham Standard Cup Final, Watersheddings,
Oldham Good Friday

Attendance Probably about 6000 (average for those games then.)

Oldham St Mary's 2 Langworthy 0

John Burke the Oldham president presented the cup after the game with the opening comment "That was the worst game of rugby I have seen in my life"

It literally consisted of 26 players going on the field with one intention of maiming the opposition. They may as well have left the ball in the dressing room it wasn't needed.

The amateur game has come on a lot since then. St Mary's don't exist anymore (The club died with my dad in 1978) and I think Langworthy have calmed down a bit.

All the best for Saturday

Pete Flanagan