The Atoms played their final home game of the season as a double header, combining a league fixture and North Lancs Shield semi-final with the winner taking all.

Heysham Atoms 26
T: Hall 2, Richardson, Dorrington, Hartlebury, Walker. G: B Livingstone.
Blackpool Scorpions 44

22-22 after 80 minutes

North West Counties
Division Three and North Lancs Shield semi-final


There was some serious twists and turns along the way with the score of 22-22 at full-time meaning the league game finished as a draw. But a period of 20 minutes extra-time was played to determine who would progress to the final.

Unfortunately in this period the Atoms ran out of steam as fatigue took its toll after fighting back from a 22-8 deficit to bring it back to draw 22-22 with the last play of the 80 minutes. The Atoms had a chance to secure victory but the conversion slid agonisingly across the front of the posts.

The Atoms were able to pick their strongest side of the season with a healthy blend of exciting youngsters alongside some seasoned performers.

In the league fixture at Blackpool, it was the Atoms who roared into a 19-0 first half lead. The league leaders reversed this on Saturday storming into 16-0 lead by the half hour.

All three Scorpions' tries were as a direct result of Atoms errors but it showed the quality of opposition that they were up against.

A 40 per cent completion rate in the first period wasn't helping the Atoms' cause as they tried to force one extra pass. This was unfortunate as Guy Richardson and Bryan Cambidge were bringing the ball away with such determination making huge yards with every carry.

In the final 10 minutes of the half, the Atoms began to build some pressure. Liam Hall went close before Lee Harvey was held up over the line. This swing in momentum built up the confidence, finally the passes began to stick and Scorpions began to creak under the pressure.

A Mark Walker line break took play over halfway. Keith Hartlebury moved the ball out wide, Livingstone swapped passes with Andy Garnett who broke down the left wing. He drew the full-back and passed to Richardson and he had enough pace to escape the cover and bring the Atoms back in the game at 16-6 at the.

The Scorpions pushed themselves further ahead as their stand-off danced around a tired looking Atoms defensive line.

Inspiration was required to change the momentum of the game and this came in the form of a collective lift by the whole team as no-one wanted their season to end on such a dour note.

The tide began to swing as Liam Hall forced his way over from close range. Minutes later he was on the scoresheet again as Hartlebury found him with a cut out pass in the left centre channel. His charge for the line was unstoppable, taking his tally for the season to 22.

There was a belief in the Atoms camp and when young winger Ben Dorrington rounded his opposite number, an upset was now really on the cards. The conversion failed but the Atoms were four points behind with seven minutes to play.

The Atoms threw everything they had into attack, showing good hands and a width to their play.

On the last play of the game, it was Hartlebury who rounded off a fine personal performance, forcing his way through a number of would-be tacklers, bringing the scores level at 22-22, with only the conver sion left in the 80 minutes.

The drama continued as agonisingly the ball sailed passed the right-hand upright with the two teams sharing the points even though the Atoms had outscored the leaders five tries to four.

The cup entry to the final now had to be decided in extra-time. The short break broke the Atoms momentum and the Scorpions ran in four tries.

Mark Walker fittingly scored for the Atoms, in this period, as his work rate - along with Andy Helme in the tackle count - justified some reward.

Unfortunately that was the last action of a highly successful season for the Atoms but their loyal band of supporters could go away in the knowledge that their team gave everything they had.

Heysham Atoms: Richardson, Dorrington, B Livingstone, Garnett, Cambidge, Hartlebury, Helme, Hall, Lithgow, Weed, O'Donnell, P Livingstone, Walker. Res: Hesketh, Harvey, Helliwell, McVernon.

Outstanding performance from the Atoms!

The last game of the year and without doubt the best performance.

The Atoms saved the best game of the year till last for the contest against the Blackpool Scorpions at the Trimpell.

The whole year cumulated into a performance from the boys that I will remember for some time, the old clichés about pride in your jumper and wearing your heart on your sleeve where no more prevalent than at the Trimpell ground on Saturday afternoon.

Individual performances such as Mark Walker 40 tackles and 18 hitups Andrew Helme 38 tackles, Liam Hall 28 tackles and 23 hitups, Keith Hartlebury 31 tackles,

Brian Cambridge 29 hitups 23 takles, Guy Richardson 27 hitups, where just some of the outstanding achievements that were delivered by countless players across the pitch.

To put things in perspective of just how good the game was on the weekend we were playing a side that had only lost 2 games in 20 competition matches throughout the season and were full of very talented players, the Atoms boys at one stage in the game where 22-6 down with only 15 minutes left to play.

The Scorpions had thrown everything at us and our bench was like the walking wounded, but the boys who now have a wonderful self belief and the tenacity to be able to repel multiple attacks started to turn the tables and the momentum was swinging in our favour

It was a fantastic 15 minutes where the Atoms scored 2 tries to get the score line back to 22-18 and with only seconds remaining Keith Hartlebury crashed through 3 defenders to score next to the post and tie the contest at 22-22.

Missed chances saw the Atoms not take full advantage of this memorable comeback only kicking 1 goal out of a possible 5 chances.

The really positive thing about the Atoms at the moment is that at no time throughout the game did they lose sight of victory and although they had the spectators and the coaching staff on the edge of our seats their coolness under pressure was outstanding.

Everything that we have planned and trained for throughout the year came together like poetry in the last 15 minutes of the match, the moves that were laid out by the pivots where working a treat, the forwards where crashing the ball forward with gusto and we where tackling like men possessed, the Scorpions had no idea what had hit them.

I have enjoyed this year at the Atoms and feel privileged to be able to be involved with a club that certainly has a great 20 year history in the area; I was full of admiration for the dedication and commitment that the players have shown throughout the year.

This game unfortunately was the last for the season for the Atoms and my last as the Atoms coach. It was fantastic to be part of the game on the weekend and to witness  a side that have progressed to the point where from a coaches perspective I was very proud.

I would like to take this opportunity to thanks the players, officials and spectators of the Heysham Atoms rugby league club that have made me feel welcome and I have really enjoyed the light refreshments and the banter after the games. 

I would like to thank the people that have emailed me about my regular column and I have tried my best to reply to all.

I wish the Club all the best for the coming years and with the playing talent that I witnessed on the weekend I'm sure the club has a bright future.

Until Another time Champ

Go the atoms!!!

Scott Saddler

scottsaddler@btconnect.com .

Thanks Crowy!!

Division 3

Dalton 16 20 Bamber Bridge

Heysham Atoms 22 22 Blackpool Scorpions

Hindpool 18 0 Glazebury

Waterhead - - West Bank Swans Post