Blackbrook A 24 - Heysham Atoms 20

After a good pre season build up, Heysham Atoms started there season with a tough trip away to Blackbrook, a well established St Helens side who play in Division 4 of the North West Counties, where Heysham now find themselves after the reconstruction of the divisions. It was always going to be a difficult task with 4 players having to play in unfamiliar positions and also missing 6 key players from last season.

The game started well with a good defensive set forcing Blackbrook to make an early mistake but we failed to capitalize on this and paid the price, on their next set of six the Atoms were caught offside and then gave away a needless penalty to put Blackbrook within 10 metres of the Atoms line. On their third tackle they spun the ball wide to score down the Atoms right wing, they failed with the conversion to give them a 4-0 lead.

Once again from the kick off we defended well and completed a good set of six with Keith Hartlebury chipping the ball in to the Blackbrook scoring zone. Blackbrook cleared it dead which resulted in a drop out under the sticks. As the Atoms drove the ball back at them they once again made an unnecessary error on the 3rd tackle which resulted in turning the ball over again. Once again Blackbrook attacked the Atoms down the right flank and scored again which this time was converted to take them in to a 10-0 lead.

This kicked the Atoms into life as the Atoms started to vary their attacking options with Lee Harvey and Dave Mac doing the hard work, along with Liam Hall in the middle of the field and Steve Jackson and Mark McIntyre looking dangerous out wide. After a good drive and a quick play the ball by Maca, Russell Birkett hit the ball at pace to race his way through the Blackbrook defence to score under the sticks. An easy conversion for Neil Walker brought the Atoms back in to the game at 10-6.

Soon after this the Atoms were back on the score sheet with a penalty to take it to 10-8. After this little spell of pressure the Atoms let themselves down with bad discipline and once again were punished at the wrong time of the game with a penalty and a converted try just on half time to take the score to 18-8.

At half time coach Dave Crow put his opinion of the first 40 minutes' performance across strongly hoping to inject some passion in to the Atoms, but the Atoms didn't respond and put themselves under more pressure
by allowing the ball to roll dead straight from the kick off. This led to a period of 15 minutes where the Atoms struggled to get out of their own half. This ended up with a converted Blackbrook try putting the Atoms 24-8 down.

The last 25 minutes of the game it was all the Atoms with Andy Garnet just missing out on a kick and chase when the ball bounced in Blackbrook's favour, whilst both Martin Pike and Greg Sykes also went close. The Atoms managed to get on the score sheet once again when a well worked move from the back of the scrum led to Andy Garnet carrying on where he left off last season racing in close to the corner flag to score a well deserved try, which he managed to convert superbly to bring the Atoms back to 24-14. The Atoms continued well but were always running out of time and with the last play of the game Man of the Match Russel Birkett scored once again under the sticks which Garnett converted to make the final score 24-20.

Heysham are at home this week when they face the promoted Eccleston lions,this match will be played on the back field at Heysham High school 2.30 Kick off.

Atoms: 1. Gavin Winder 2. Colin Bebbington 3. Andy Garnet 4. Mark Allen 5. Steve Jackson 6. Greg Sykes 7.Keith Hartlebury 8. Lee Harvey 9. Neil Walker 10. Dave McVernon 11 Andy Aldren 12. Liam Hall 13. Russell Birkett 14. Elliott Pyrah 15. Martin Pike 16. Chris Helme 17.Rob Shaw

After a long pre season but with only one friendly we found our opening fixture would be a difficult game away at Blackbrook in St Helens. This year we are in Division 4 of the North West Counties after a reconstruction
of the league and I was hoping we could make a big impact in this division.

We are struggling to find players for key positions, especially in the backs as we have lost 4 quality backs in the closed season and this showed on Saturday afternoon. Our discipline was poor with us giving away needless
penalties and our ball retention was bad with us not completing nearly enough sets of six to compete in this game.

We had two decent spells where we put together good sets both in attack and defense and put them under pressure but we have to do this for the full 80. In this division there are 6 or 7 well established clubs who we will be playing their A team, and these games always make for tough affairs as they feel they need to compete with their first teams.

On Saturday we are playing a team unknown to us in Eccleston Lions who were promoted last season. This game is being played on the back pitch at Heysham High school 2.30 kick off due to Trimpell being unavailable.

Every Thursday at 4 -5.30 pm at Heysham High school there will be Rugby League Coaching for years 8 & 9 with Mark Edmondson from Tetley's Super League club St.Helens to taking training. This is in partnership with Heysham Atoms and Lancaster RLFC and it gives the opportunity for anyone in years 8 & 9 regardless of school to play rugby league. All welcome - be at the PE block for 4pm.

Leigh East 40 Pilkingtons Recs A 16

Ince Rose Bridge 36 Waterhead 6

Blackbrook A 24 Heysham Atoms 20

Eccleston Lions 26 Widnes Tigers 24

Wigan Keepers Bulldogs 14 Leigh Miners Rangers 16

Cadishead Rhinos 22 Crosfields 16