Heysham Atoms 4 - Waterhead 20
North West Counties Division Four

The Atoms finally got chance to blow out a few cobwebs after the extended Christmas lay-off against a Waterhead side that is on the run of seven straight victories in the league.

The match sharpness and the more clinical finishing of the Oldham side ultimately won through on the day.
The Atoms fielded a youthful looking line-up with only four players in the squad of 17 being above the age of 26.
Seventeen-year-old Ollie Austin started in the stand-off role and showed some nice touches before an injury to fullback Randal Raines forced him to take up a more familiar role. His introduction to nearer the action did him no harm at all and can only increase his confidence with each game played.
The Atoms started brightly, playing error free football, allowing Keith Hartlebury to turn the Oldham side around with some well-placed kicks.
Second-rower Russ Birkett found some space in the right centre channel breaking the line twice before being halted by some determined defence.
The Atoms were monopolising possession and able to find the gaps but unable to finish off the moves.
Dave McVernon made a 'bust' charging 40 yards before being hauled down by a brave tackle by Waterhead's full-back.
The Waterhead defence was beginning to creak under a great deal of pressure but a combination of wrong options and poorly-directed kicks let them off the hook.
This inability to turn the pressure into points would come back to haunt the Heysham side.
A deep relieving kick from Waterhead found Andy Garnet on the Atoms 20-metre mark. He jinked himself away from a couple of chasers and linked up with Batson, Telford and Birkett – all showing a nice pair of hands.
Craven made the decisive break, again down the favoured right flank, but was held up five metres short.
The remaining moves were kept far too close to the rucks which made the defending easier for the Waterhead players. A knock-on on the last finally gave Waterhead use of the ball. A break by the centre took play to the halfway line where he was stopped in his tracks by an excellent Raines tackle.
A 'flop' penalty at the next tackle further retreated the Atoms defensive line. This was the first attack by Waterhead that had been in the Atoms 20-metre zone and they showed how chances should be taken, scoring close to the posts after penetrating a static Atoms line.
Garnett had a chance to get the scoreboard ticking but he hooked a penalty shot across the face of the posts.
Waterhead's next two visits to Atoms' territory were both rewarded with points as intelligent play by their stand-off landed them two field goals in quick succession, giving them an 8-0 lead.
The Atoms must have had 75 per cent of the possession but nothing to show for it and to add insult to injury they were trailing as well.
The frustration close to the line continued after the impressive Liam Hall had hammered his way up the middle of the pack.
Hartlebury placed a tantalising kick into the try scoring area where winger Gavin Winder was only fingertips away from putting downward pressure on the ball.
Elliott Pyrah and Andy Aldren were shoring up a flakey-looking Atoms defence that always needed to keep an eye on Waterhead's dangerous right centre.
Rory Batson had to work had defensively all day on his opposite number but still found time to slide in a neat kick behind the full back and winger.
Telford and Garnett chased hard and caught the winger before bundling him back over his own line for a goal-line drop out.
Again the Atoms could not convert this pressure into points and went in at the break 8-0 down.
The Atoms had a change round of personnel, bringing Andy Helme on at stand-off and Shane Weed into the pack. This was Shane's first game for a couple of seasons after a series of knee injuries halted his progress.
The second half was far less open than the first where both sides seemed to close down and play the percentage game.
This led to a scrappy and sometimes tetchy opening to the second period.
The Atoms were dealt a double blow losing Raines and Craven from their three-quarters in quick succession.
Before they had time to regroup and organise themselves the Oldham side had coasted out to a 14-0 lead with a converted try.
The Atoms finally got a piece of good fortune as Waterhead tried to clear their lines coming over the 20-metre mark.
A fumbled ball from a pass was pounced on by winger Garnett who outsprinted the cover to score his 10th try of the season. Unfortunately the conversion failed but this gave the Atoms a bit of self belief that they could rescue this game.
They tried to get as much ball as they could to the elusive Garnett on the left wing but the accuracy of the passing sometimes slowed the play down.
The dangerous Atoms prop McVernon found his second wind trying to find that elusive gap but he was well marshalled by an organised Waterhead defence.
The sucker punch finally came with 10minutes remaining.
A strong drive by Waterhead's prop made big inroads, the stand-off took up the play and slipped out of a tackle gliding over the line for a converted score.
The Atoms had lacked any real cohesion in the second half and at times their attacks were laboured and easy to read, but true to form they gave it their best shot up until the final whistle.
Scott Needham made his league debut in the closing minutes and at 17 is another with a fine future.
'Good to get back to playing, but too many scoring opportunities blown' would be a fair verdict on the match.

Atoms: R Raines, G Winder, M Craven, R Batson, A Garnett, O Austin, K Hartlebury (capt), D McVernon, A Aldren, L Hall, R Birkett, E Pyrah, S Telford. Reps: L Harvey, A Helme, S Weed, S Needham.

Division 4
Pilkingtons A Widnes Tigers Postponed

Leigh MR Ince Rose Bridge Postponed

Crosfields Leigh East Postponed

Cadishead Rhinos 6 Blackbrook A 26

Wigan Keepers Bulldogs 12 Eccleston Lions 18

Heysham Atoms 4 Waterhead 20