Heysham Atoms 17 - Oldham St Annes 28

Trys: Bryan Cambidge (2), Keith Hartlebury
Goals: Neil Walker (2)
Drop Goals: Neil Walker

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

Oldham St Annes came to the Trimpell on the back of an impressive league record, having only lost twice, on both occasions to unbeaten league leaders Bank Quay Bulls.
Back in October the Atoms suffered a heavy 40-6 defeat over at Oldham, with this game showing the improvement the Atoms have made since.
It was a close run thing but the deciding factors were that Oldham had the knack of scoring at important times during the game and their ability to hit the floor and play the ball quickly had the Atoms struggling to set their defensive line before the next wave of attack came.
The Atoms had their rocky periods during the game, especially in the first half, but they also contributed superbly well to an exciting game.
Oldham were first on the scoreboard as their monopoly of possession had to bring them something.
Their props were coming onto the ball well and causing all sorts of problems. A holding-down offence, under the Atoms' posts, brought a penalty and a 2-0 lead.
The first real time the Atoms were in Oldham's half of the field they were able to take the lead with an excellent score.
An attack down the right involving the industrious Alex Batson, the forwards brought the ball back to the middle for stand-off, Mills to launch a 'bomb' to the corner on the last.
Full-back Randal Raines rose the highest and took the ball out of the winger's hands.
He had the awareness to offload the ball, as he was held, to the grateful Bryan Cambidge who shot over the remaining yards.
Oldham's lively scrum half and stand-off had begun to get a grip on the game. The speed at which the ball was played gave these two acres of room to move the ball wide.
Only some outstanding last ditch tackles usually involving the evergreen Andy Aldren, was just about keeping Oldham out.
Wingers Birkett and Garnett were kept busier than usual as the ball was moved wide on both sides of the pack
When the pressure is on the penalty count usually goes against you and this gave St Annes a dominant field position.
Two tries in quick succession gave Oldham a comfortable 18-4 lead and it was no more than they deserved.
Earlier in the season the Atoms would have folded under this constant pressure but they had learned to dig in there and that's just what they did.
Dave McVernon was beginning to run well off the shoulder of Mills.
A speculative kick was knocked on by Oldham's winger and Cambidge charged for the line.
Captain Hartlebury slid out of the first tackle before side stepping the next and going over the line for a great individual score. Walker stepped up and knocked over the conversion.
As the first half edged to its conclusion, Oldham posted an important score.
On the last play of the half a well weighted kick just behind the Atoms line gave the winger just enough room to get downward pressure on the ball for a vital score at a vital time to make it 22-10 at half-time.
A far better Atoms second half showed their pedigree, despite the loss to injury of captain Keith Hartlebury.
Simon Ledwick came into the three-quarters and he gave the coach a real nudge with a lively display.
It was the Atoms turn to have a period of pressure mainly as a result of a deeper kicking game.
Three or four sets of six really sap the strength.
Cambidge moved into the acting half-back and 'scooped' close to the line. His sheer determination propelled him over the whitewash for his second try of the afternoon.
This brought the Atoms right back into contention.
Andy Garnett was denied his customary try when he adjudged offside when stealing the loose ball and placing the ball over the line.
The disappointment of this didn't last long as Mills again turned them round with an excellent kick.
Winger Birkett chased hard and forced the error on Oldham's centre. On the last Walker split the uprights with a neat prop goal.
This put the Atoms five points behind with over ten minutes still left on the clock.
The Atoms threw everything into the win but it just wasn't to be.
Oldham, as in the first half, finished the stronger and put the result in no doubt with a score in the final minutes.
They had looked dangerous when going wide all afternoon and a break down the left was well supported.
Once they had got behind the cover it was always going to be difficult for the Atoms scrambling defence.
The try was scored close to the posts, making the conversion easier and taking the victory for the Oldham side.

Atoms: R Raines, A Garnett, A Batson, B Cambidge, R Birkett, L Mills, K Hartlebury (captain), D McVernon, N Walker, L Hall, R Shaw, C Helme, A Aldren. Reserves G Helliwell, M Allan, L Harvey, S Ledwick.

Heysham Atoms 17 - Oldham St Annes 28

Trys: Bryan Cambidge (2), Keith Hartlebury
Goals: Neil Walker (2)
Drop Goals: Neil Walker

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

Second placed Oldham St. Annes provided the latest test for the rapidly improving Atoms in Division 2 action on Saturday. In the reverse fixture in November the Atoms had been well beaten and were eager for revenge on a clear, chilly day at Trimpell.

And the Atoms started off on top, a well-placed kick from Mills was fielded by Raines and passed on to Cambidge, who crossed the line for a 4-0 lead.

Over the next twenty minutes however the Atoms faced a constant onslaught from powerful, pacy opposition and were lucky to go in at half time only 22-10 down.

After losing the influential Hartlebury to injury, coach Dave Crow asked the players to dig deep, and the forced change in personnel provided the impetus for the Atoms to go on attack for virtually the whole second half, ably led by the charges of Helliwell, Allen and Hall.

A period of sustained pressure lead to Cambidge notching his second try, and the Atoms, back to within a try came close to winning the game on two occasions through Garnett and the returning Ledwick.

Unfortunately just as victory seemed within grasp, a rapier strike from the St. Annes fullback put the game out of reach five minutes before time, a cruel blow the second half performance did not deserve.

The man of the Match points were taken by Lewis Mills, Rob Shaw and Bryan Cambidge.

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