Heysham Atoms 14 - Pilkington Recs A 22
North West Counties Division Four

HEYSHAM Atoms' hope for promotion faded further with a disappointing home defeat against a lively Pilkingtons side that were happily sat in mid-table before Saturday's game.

The victory could have been more comprehensive for the St Helens team had they kicked their goals, only landing one out of their five tries scored.
The Atoms seemed out of sorts finding it difficult to get their expansive game flowing. At times the passing was poor and so the link and cohesion between the forwards and the backs suffered.
The two Atoms props – Dave McVernon and Liam Hall – have been two of the most consistent players for the Atoms this season.
The go-forward from the pair was again good but this just wasn't taken advantage of until the final quarter.
The Atoms worked the narrow side in the early exchanges getting wingers Gavin Winder and Steven Jackson into the play.
Unfortunately Andy Garnett's game was over barely before it had started, as he suffered a back injury early in the piece.
A soft Pilkington's try further disrupted the Atoms before Oliver Austin settled the nerves with a penalty kick on 15 minutes.
An untidy period for the Atoms was punished by conceding another try, mainly as a direct result of not controlling the ball when in possession. This was a sin they were guilty of throughout the afternoon.
Russel Birkett, playing in his now favoured role of loose forward, found some room out on the right. He had men outside him but backed himself and unfortunately a good cover tackle brought him down five yards from the line.
The following Atoms plays were kept too close to the ruck and the chance was wasted. Further more, the Atoms conceded a penalty giving up the territory that had eluded them so far in the game.
A missed tackle out on the Atoms left let Pilkington's centre canter 50 yards downfield. He was halted by Austin but the Atoms could not scramble back quick enough as the St Helens side flooded forward in support, scoring their third try of the afternoon.
The break could not come soon enough for the Heysham side knowing that they must up the tempo if they were to get anything out of the game.
Being a lot more positive in the opening of the second period allowed the Atoms to up their percentage in the completed sets.
Captain Helliwell rallied his troops by taking on the opposition in the direct manner that suits his game.
This gave Hartlebury and Helme a bit more time but the moves looked laboured and lacking the usual direction.
The Atoms found Pilkington's centre quite a handful, showing good footwork with ball in hand.
He carved out an opening finishing off the move and giving the kicker chance to break his duck. This he did sending his team into an 18-2 lead.
What had preceded had been pretty ordinary by the Atoms' standards and thankfully they began to find some rhythm.
At attack down the left involving the unusually-subdued Brian Cambidge took play into Pilkington's 20-metre zone.
Hall and McVernon worked toward the posts before Telford put Birkett into a gap.
This time there was no cover coming across and Birkett moved closer to his target of 20 tries for the season, scoring his 19th to the right of the post.
Again Austin looked confident in the kicking duties bringing the Atoms to within 10 points.
The lead was further ebbed away when Randal Raines stretched his way over from a play the ball close to the line.
This was probably the Atoms last clearcut chance with Pilkington's finishing the game in the ascendancy.
A last-gasp try looked to have been enough for Pilkingtons, seeing out the game confidently, as the Atoms desperately tried to get to the other end of the field.
Disappointment from the players was there for all to see but they must pick themselves up as they have chance to make amends quickly as they travel to Pilkingtons next Saturday in the return fixture, kick-off 2.30pm.

Heysham Atoms: O Austin, S Jackson, A Garnett, B Cambidge, G Winder, A Helme, K Hartlebury, D McVernon, A Aldren, L Hall, S Weed, G Helliwell, R Birkett. Res: M MacIntyre, S Telford, M Holmes, R Raines.

Match sponsor: Portrait Pools and Enclosures Limited.

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Heysham Atoms 14 Pilkingtons Recs 22