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Heysham Atoms 34, Clock Face Miners 43 The Atoms went out of the Challenge cup on Saturday, at the Trimpell, but not before giving crack St Helens outfit a real fright. This was a fantastic advert for attacking rugby with both sides sharing the 14 tries by seven apiece. Ultimately the kicking proved the only separation point between the sides but it must be stated that the majority of the Atoms tries were scored wider out than their opponents. The last two Atoms home games have produced a staggering total of 140 points with the Heysham side scoring over 30 points on both occasions and losing twice. If the finger can be pointed it must be a criticism of their defence at critical times during the game that was not as ruthless as it could have been. On the day there were some outstanding individual performances non-more so than Liam Hall who scored a fine hat-trick taking his total to 20 for the season so far. Even this hat trick wasn't enough to wrestle the man of the match accolade from Atoms full back Guy Richardson who again proved what a player he is. He has been consistently good all season and if there is a better player in this position, in the Atoms league, then they haven't come across him yet. The Atoms welcomed back Dave McVernon after a lengthy injury lay off that has seen him not play since September. He came off the bench for a couple of spells and although it will take a lot more game time to get back up to full speed the signs were very positive. The Atoms had prepared well for this game after last weeks morale boosting victory against the Miners of Leigh. They started in confident manner completing the first four sets of possession. On the back of this the kick and chase was good and the defence looked solid and organised. Josh O'Donnell laid down a marker with the first big hit of the game maintaining his good form since the Christmas break. Mike Holmes lined up in the centre due to the late withdrawal of Keith Hartlebury and showed how dangerous he can be on his feet making some excellent yards. The Atoms deservedly took the lead on the ten-minute mark when Liam Hall wrapped around to the blind side taking a short pass from Andy Helme blasting his way over at short range. Billy Livingstone converted. Clock Face too had started well with ball in hand and showed what a threat they could be capitalising on two Atoms errors to score two quick fire tries taking back the lead in a blink of an eye back to 12.6 in their favour. The Atoms were getting into the right areas to exert some pressure but tended to loose a bit of composure close to the line. Loose Forward Mark Walker settled things down going over the line from dummy half stretching out an arm onto the whitewash to bring the scores back level. Richardson at the back was solid as ever taking great yards after fielding some dangerous kicks. The rotation of the forwards meant the intensity of play was maintained and Lee Harvey and the outstanding prospect James Hesketh added to an increasingly dominant pack. As the break approached Clock Face attacked down the Atoms right. Mark Walker stripped the ball in a one on one tackle and took play forty meters up field as the cover caught him he offloaded to Guy Richardson who raced away for the other forty meters giving the Atoms a fully deserved half time lead of 16.12. Coach Saddler was pleased with the first period but stressed the importance of the defensive effort, as he knew his charges would be tested to the full in the second period. His disappointment could be heard all around the ground as the Atoms conceded a try through sloppy defence within two minutes of the restart. Hooker Gary Lithgow made two vital interceptions and Mark Walker made a try saving tackle as the Clock Face attack gained some real momentum. Lithgow initiated the next Atoms attack 'scooping' away from the acting half back position. O'Donnell got an offload away to Billy Livingstone before the ball was moved all the way down the line for winger Gavin Winder to score in style and give a slender two point lead to the Atoms. This would be the last time in the game that the Atoms would hold the lead although they were to add three more tries. The Clock Face six and seven came more into their own as the game wore on targeting the Atoms big fellows in the middle of the park. This tactic brought them two tries and a real stranglehold on the game. Neil Walker had again impressed with his kicking game but his hands constructed the next Atoms score for Liam Hall taking the Atoms back to within one score with fifteen minutes remaining. A converted try and drop goal virtually killed off the contest but not before Liam Hall spun out of a tackle to stretch over for his hat trick try. The Atoms succumbed to a sucker move right under the posts conceding a try to an old Atoms play that again was improved by two points. The final try of the game fittingly came from the Atoms when Walker put up a 'bomb' on the last tackle. The hard working Shane Weed reacted the fastest scoring his first of the season. As a spectacle this couldn't have been better but the purist will point to the defensive lapses of the Atoms during the game ones they can ill afford next week at home to table toppers Blackpool Scorpions. Heysham Atoms: Richardson, Winder, Holmes, B.Livingstone, C.Hall, N.Walker, Helme, L.Hall, Lithgow, Weed, O'Donnell, P.Livingstone, M.Walker, Res Harvey, Hesketh, McVernon, Shaw Next Sat:
From The Saddle
Results
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