Heysham Atoms 40 - Eccelston Lions 4
played @ Heysham High School

Tries: Andy Garnet (3), Dave McVernon (3), Russell Brikett
Goals: Andy Garnet (6)

THE Atoms gained a fine victory in their first 'home' league game of the season, played at Heysham High School.
The first half was the basis for victory in terms of points put on the board but it was the tactics in the second period, against a strong driving wind, that coasted them to victory.

The Atoms won the toss and elected to take first use of the elements knowing how important it was to start well and get on the scoresheet first. The opening set, direct from the kick-off, showed how pumped-up the forwards were, taking them a full 90 metres. Liam Hall spearheaded the charge gaining in confidence with every meter gained.

The second and third sets were also completed before McVernon broke the line and popped up a great pass to the supporting Andy Garnett.He finished well under the posts leaving the Eccleston players wondering what had hit them with only eight minutes played.The weather conditions deteriorated as the heavens opened and instead of consolidating on their lead the Atoms continued to throw the ball around. This was fraught with danger such was the slippyness of the ball.

Mistakes aplenty were made in a frustrating period, making one risky pass too many and handing over possession. Russell Birkett settled the team down powering over from short range giving kicker Garnett an easy attempt at goal. The Atoms had shot into a 12-0 lead but this was far less convincing than the scoreline suggested. Eccleston had lived off the scraps that the Heysham side had handed them but when given the opportunity they were able to complete their sets and use the stand-off's trusty boot to gain good field position.

An Eccleston grubber kick close to the line was misjudged by a number of Atoms' defenders and this hesitation was invitation enough for Eccleston to pick up the ball and stride over the line. The conversion failed but this should have warned the Atoms that any unforced error could be punished. Unfortunately, this warning was not heeded as the pass was continually forced, resulting in Eccleston applying the pressure. Only some resolute defending from debutants Matt Craven and Scott Telford kept the Atoms' line in tact.

An interception from Andy Garnett relieved the pressure, having enough in the tank to take him 80 metres upfield to score his second try of the day.The power of the forward pack had been evident from the start and, if the mistakes could be cut out, dominance would soon follow. Lee Harvey and Andy Aldren were finding some holes behind the 'play the balls' forcing Eccleston to track back at a rate of knots.

McVernon's keen eye for an opening and his power to beat off defenders close to the line brought the Atoms two quick scores just before the break to virtually guarantee of the two points by making it 30-4 at half-time. The emphasis at half-time centred on cutting out the errors, playing a little tighter and more direct to combat the deteriorating weather conditions. What resulted was a very controlled half of rugby dominated by the Atoms, with a completion rate far higher than in the first period.

The strong bench were asked to come on and maintain the intensity with all playing their part. Eccleston had no real answer to loose forward Birkett who continually broke-the-line. He is in the form of his life and it was his eagerness for work that brought him his reward as man of the match. It didn't take the Atoms long to increase their lead when McVernon crashed onto a delayed pass, to gallop around the full-back to complete his hat-trick.

With the two vital league points in the bag coach Dave Crow withdrew his big guns, Hall and McVernon, to the sidelines. Shaw, Helme and Connaughton were given valuable game time to stake their case for a place in the starting line-up. The passing lines were kept shorter than in the first-half with Hartlebury and Telford picking out the runners close to the ruck. The narrow side was continually exploited sharing the workload with forwards and backs alike.

A 50-yard break from Birkett was halted five metres from the line only for all this hard work to be undone by a knock-on at the resulting play the ball. This was only a minor set-back as on the next set of six a sweeping move with good hands involving Winder and Craven put winger Martin Pike away into space. He was hauled down 10 metres from the line but had the sense of mind to cut infield to stop being dragged into touch. Eccleston could not scramble back in time and Garnett's quality finishing was again on show completing his hat-trick and taking his kicks at goal to six out of seven on the day.

This was the final score and with Eccleston being given little chance to break the Atoms' line, they were to come away scoreless in the second period, which was testament to an aggressive, organised Atoms' defence.
There will be sterner tests to come this season but confidence is increasing with every game and this new-look team is beginning to gel together.

Atoms: G Winder, S Jackson, M Craven, A Garnett, M Pike, S Telford, K Hartlebury, D McVernon, G Sykes, L Harvey, L Hall, A Aldren, R Birkett. Res: C Connaughton, A Helme, R Shaw, H Pinner.
Man of the match: Russell Birkett.

Heysham Atoms 40 - Eccelston Lions 4
played @ Heysham High School

Tries: Andy Garnet (3), Dave McVernon (3), Russell Brikett
Goals: Andy Garnet (6)

Heysham Atoms got their home campaign off to a flying start on Saturday with an impressive 40-4 win over mid-table side Eccleston Lions, propelling the Atoms to third place in the league.

The game started brighly for the Atoms with their forwards running strongly and making good yards against Eccleston. The early signs are that the Atoms' intensive pre-season fitness work is beginning to pay dividends, it was obvious from early on in the game that the Eccleston forwards did not have the stamina to compete with the aggression of the Atoms pack.

Andy Garnet, whose red hot form through the summer with Lancaster, opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a well taken try on the left wing.

Dave McVernon at prop is rapidly recovering from his pectoral injury and revelled in the middle of the park running at a pack that struggled to contain him all afternoon. It was only a matter of time before McVernon, strode through the defence to register his first try of the afternoon.

The Atoms dominated the first half in both attack and defence. Matt Craven returned to the team at centre and showed the Atoms what they had been missing last week. He repeatedly drove his opposing centre into the ground with bone-jarring tackles which were felt all the way back to St Helens. Allthough not on the score sheet, Matt was many people's man of the match with his numerous breaks leading to Atoms' tries and his aggressive defence spurring his teammates on.

Eccleston showed what they could offer with a spell of posession just before half time which resulted in a an unconverted try. But it was the Atoms that had dominated the first half, building up an impressive lead of 28-4.

After the break the wind and driving rain slowed the game down, but the determined Atoms defence were in no mood to let their hard earned lead slip.

Further tries were added by winger Andy Garnett and Prop Dave McVernon, an undertaker by trade, to bury the Eccleston Lions by completing their respective hat-tricks.

The Man of the Match award went to Russell Birkett in recognition of his hard work at loose forward.

Next week the Atoms are away to Wigan Keepers Bulldogs, 2.30pm on Saturday.

Atoms:G Winder, S Jackson, M Craven, A Garnett, M Pike, S Telford, K Hartlebury, D McVernon, G Sykes, L Harvey, L Hall, A Aldren, R Birkett. Res: C Connaughton, A Helme, R Shaw, H Pinner.
Man of the match: Russell Birkett.

We needed a performance early in the season like this as it will be a great confident boost for the club, I think we now know we can compete in this division.

The conditions were atrocious but especially in the second half we controlled the ball well and completed our sets of six,this was due largely to the fact that Andy Helme came on and organized the forwards in to running better angles and playing to the conditions.

We had two debutantes on Saturday, Scott Telford filled in at stand off, a position I was worried we would have trouble to fill this season and he did a very impressive job there, also Matt Craven stepped in to centre and was for me our Man of the Match with some big tackles and also always looking dangerous with the ball in his hands.

Again Andy Garnett was on the score sheet with a hatrick and also Dave MacVernon scored three both now having scored 4 tries in 2 games, Garnett was also very impressive with the boot kicking 6 out of 7 in a very difficult and strong wind.

The only negative aspect of the game was that when we got on top in the first half we thought we could score on every set of six and we were trying to release the pass in impossible situations and this found us turning the ball over early in the tackle count, would we have been playing a better team we would have been punished for this.

We have to start to learn to respect our possession, be a lot more patient and to play to our game plan.
We have numerous players back this week and people are going to have to perform week in week out to be certain of getting picked.

Saturday we find our self at early season favorites Wigan Keepers but hopefully with our confidence building we will try and do something we haven't done very often and that's come away from Wigan with a win.

Pilkingtons Rec A 38 Blackbrook A 12

Ince Rose Bridge 48 Leigh East 4

Heysham Atoms 40 Eccleston Lions 4

Leigh MR 46 Cadishead Rhinos 6

Waterhead 18 Crosfields 0