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The Saints go marching on Oldham St Annes 40 - Heysham Atoms 6 The struggle continues for the Heysham Atoms as they were well and truly beaten into second place by a lively Oldham side on their own patch. Oldham St Annes possessed an extra yard of pace in most positions which had the Atoms chasing the game all afternoon.
Things looked to be going well for the Atoms as their first three possessions were completed and a good kick-chase got them into Oldham's territory. Unfortunately one missed tackle close to Oldham's line gave their centre some open field to run in. He showed a good pair of heels going a full 85 metres to score the opening try. Sharp half backs operating around a solid pack of forwards caused all sorts of problems for the Atoms defenders but the Atoms stuck in there and weathered the storm.
Half-time 2:14 Although not playing anywhere near to their potential the Atoms were only two scores behind and felt that they could claw their way back with some improved defence and a more snappy approach to their attacking play. This was to come to fruition in the opening 10 minutes of the second half. A break from Mills around the ruck was well backed up by Rory Batson. He continued down the narrowside before he got the ball away in the tackle, with a delightful offload. This gave winger Russell Birkett just enough space to squeeze over forcing the ball down under a melee of Oldham bodies, for his first try of the season.
At times the Atoms scrambling defence was good getting back to bring off some telling tackles but they let themselves down by "coughing up" the ball too easily when back in possession. This gave Oldham the ball back but more importantly made the already overworked Atoms defence, make more tackles, which ultimately saps the energy. Tries from Oldham came at regular intervals with the Atoms struggling as the attack switched from one side of the pitch to the other. During this period of domination for St Annes, Sykes, Aldren and Helliwell tackled themselves to a standstill as the Atoms found it difficult to break the shackles of their own half.
Gallery
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The
optimism after last weeks close run cup game, against Haresfinch, quickly
ebbed away after conceding 14 points in the opening 20 minutes. Also in
this period they lost the services of Captain and loose forward Keith
Hartlebury with a knee injury.
The
second period of 20 minutes in the first half was a lot more competitive
from the Atoms. Their pack, although missing the go-forward of flu victim
Bryan Cambidge, started gaining valuable yards down the middle of the
park. Hooker Mills began running from the dummy half position and Connaughton
and Aldren put in some good driving play. Some improved kicking got better
field position but all too often the pressure was released by poor defence,
allowing too many easy yards to the Oldham side.
Andy
Garnett is making good progress since his return from the Union code and
he looked the most likely Atoms player to open up a solid Oldham's defence.
As the half-time whistle approached he made a decisive break that drew
a foul when he was finally stopped. From the awarded penalty it was Garnett
himself who knocked over the two points.
Mills
was again involved in the next attack benefiting from a speed-up of the
play the balls. Centre Simon Brookes was up in support continuing the
move to stand-off Andy Helme. He was brought down 5 yards from the line
and the chance was gone. These were the last clear cut chances and from
here on in the Atoms form deteriorated as Oldham took a stranglehold on
proceedings.
On
the day the Atoms were beaten by a side that played at a pace that was
difficult to live with but nothing they can't aspire to with hard work.
Garnett, Helme and Batson were adjudged the best on the day for the Atoms,
with Lewis Mills pushing them all the way. Hopefully the spirit and confidence
has not been dented too severely after this disappointing performance.
