Leigh Miners Rangers P-P Heysham Atoms

Postponed due to waterlogged pitch.

Atoms:

AFTER the enforced two week break for the Christmas period, the Atoms were looking forward to a tough away trip to Leigh Miners Rangers.

Unfortunately the weather got the better of them when a waterlogged pitch forced the cancellation.
Coach Dave Crow had targeted this game as vital to the aspirations of the club for the remainder of the season. A tight game at the Trimpell saw the Atoms just have the edge with a 20-16 victory. Tries were scored by Gavin Winder, Keith Hartlebury and Andy Garnett with the latter adding four kicks at goal.

The Atoms now face Waterhead and Widnes Tigers, both at home, in the next two weeks. Although underdone in terms of match practice, there has certainly been no let up in the intensity at training. Waterhead have had a fine run of victories, taking them up to third in the league, after an indifferent start to the season and will prove to be a stern test for the Atoms.

Widnes Tigers languish near the bottom of the league, but looking at their points for and against suggests that nobody rolls them over too easily. Being able to call on the services of ex-Widnes players of the calibre of Stuart Spruce and the Myler brothers will make this another tricky fixture that can't be estimated.

League leaders for most of the season - Ince Rose Bridge - have faltered recently, losing three out of their last four games and being displaced at the top of the pile by St Helens outfit, Blackbrook. This leaves the promotion spots wide open with eight teams in with a realistic chance. Although lying in fourth postion the Atoms have games in hand on all their rivals and have to play all three teams above them at home. At the moment they possess the best defensive record and this will need to be maintained if their full potential is to be realised.
Coach Dave Crow had been able to pick a far more settled side this term, with the core of the team sticking together for most of the season so far.

The try scoring charts are a lot more even this season with Russ Birkett (11 tries), Dave McVernon (10 tries) and Andy Garnett (9 tries) leading the way.

The Man of the Match points are a lot more one sided affair with Dave McVernon way out in front (21 points), Russ Birkett (8), Liam Hall (7) and Andy Garnett (7) leading the chasing pack.

New captain Gavin Helliwell has done a fine job bringing this new side together on the field, unfortunately his season has stalled, sustaining a hand injury that will keep him out until February. New faces Scott Telford, Ollie Austin and Matt Craven have all blended into the side well and with the majority of the side under 25 this can only stand the club on a good footing for the future.