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Spectator violence mars impressive victory Heysham Atoms 22 - Wigan St Judes 12 Men of the Match Scorers: Dismissal:
The Atoms had worked hard in the week following a 2 point defeat last week at St Judes and the coaching staff had worked out a game plan to hopefully topple their Wigan rivals. The players responded magnificently carrying out their orders to the letter and bringing them the reward of 2 vital league points. Only 2 changes were made from the previous week with Mark Allan coming onto the bench to stiffen up the pack and Lewis Mills coming in to fill the problem No 6 jersey. These 2 changes were instrumental in the victory with Mills being adjudged the man of the match by some distance after an outstanding performance. The Atoms started at a high tempo and were able to maintain this standard up until the 60 minute mark when an unsavoury incident knocked them out of their stride and took the polish off an outstanding game. The Atoms started strongly taking the ball up with real aggression making some great yards to their intended target of the middle of the field. From this position they used their backs to attack the outside channels and it was no coincidence that 3 out of the 4 tries were scored in these areas. A clean break by the elusive Mills was well back up by Alex Batson. He took the well timed pass and went over unopposed from 15 yards out. Walker, as usual, had his kicking boots on and the extras were added. The Atoms were playing a deeper kicking game and enthusiastic chases were forcing St Judes into errors under their own posts. The lead was increased shortly after with a neat move involving Mills as distributor, Cambidge as the dummy runner and Batson taking a great angled run to put Garnett away in corner and a 10:0 lead. St Judes had seen very little of the ball but as last week had showed, they could soak up the pressure with some determined defence. They were up against it but were able to come out the other side and force the Atoms to defend their own line. Two successive penalties took play deep into Atoms territory but some great defending from Aldren and Cambidge especially kept them out and a timely interception from winger Garnett took the Atoms away from the danger zone. Normal service was resumed with Walker and Hartlebury distributing well with the runners benefiting from a yard of extra space from this quality passing. Randal Raines at full back again showed his potential with another mistake free afternoon. His incursions into the line along with his hard work out of defence really caught the eye and proved to be an able deputy for the unavailable Guy Richardson. The pressure and control being exerted by the Atoms really needed to produce more points. This came in the form of Alex Batson's second try of the game. Mills forced the goal line drop out after a deft little kick. Three quick forward drives and a swift handling move brought the score and was converted again by Walker. This brought a close on probably the best 40 minutes the Atoms crowd had witnessed their side play this season. Half time 16:0 Atoms A strong bench is vital to maintain intensity and Helliwell stepped into the pack to do this job. His defence was solid and he took the ball up strongly which is just what the coach ordered. A break from Birkett down the left wing was well supported by McVernon and Cambidge. From 5 yards away from the line Hall crashed over on an unstoppable charge. This gave the Atoms a 22:0 lead with 30 minutes still remaining. A big win was on the cards but one thing they have learned over the years is that no Wigan sides throw the towel in early and if you take your foot off the gas you will get punished. A knock-on close to the Atoms line put the Heysham side under unnecessary pressure and this was all the St Judes side needed. A lack of concentration in the defensive line just left a little gap that St Judes stand off took advantage of. He squeezed his way over the line close to the posts for a converted try. A couple of incidents at the play the ball increased the temperature before an inevitable scuffle occurred. From the resultant melee the Hall family were red-carded en-bloc. This incident knocked the wind out of the sails of the Atoms team where previously they had looked in total control. There were now cracks beginning to appear as the game came to a fiery conclusion. Thankfully there was no more need for the ref to brandish any more cards of either colour as St Judes finished the stronger, posting their second try of the game in the final 5 minutes. The whole team can take great credit from this victory with Mills, Raines
and Walker taking the man of the match points.
Gallery
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Although
this game involved 2 teams at the wrong end of the table, the game was
of a very high quality with the Atoms producing a first half performance
not bettered this season.
