Hindpool Tigers 24 Heysham Atoms 18

North West Counties Division Three

The Atoms are still searching for their first league points after an improved performance still wasn't enough to gain them victory up in Barrow. The Atoms only really played for 40 mins against Dalton the previous week and that figure could be extended to 60 mins on Saturday's performance but unless they progress to playing for the full 80 mins then they are going to find life very difficult in this highly competitive league.

The Heysham side had worked extremely hard to get into a winning position at 18 points to 8 then came a 'collective head explosion,' as coach Saddler described it, which threw away the game. A number of factors came into the equation one being the harsh sin-binning of Keith Hartlebury mid-way through the second half and another being on the wrong end of a 20 to 6 penalty count which caused no end of frustration and ultimately cost them vital field position when chasing the game.

In the pre-season friendly between these two there had been very little to choose between the sides and this game proved to be no different. Hindpool had the better of the opening exchanges and an early penalty was reward for their start. The Atoms found their feet and were putting into practice what they had worked upon over the last week since the Dalton game.

The play the balls were sharper, the attack had a bit more zip about it and the defensive system looked organised and up for the challenge. Keith Hartlebury's running skills have been honed into the second row with great effect. He was able to get a great offload away in the tackle to loose forward Mark Walker who had enough pace and power to finish off the move for the Atoms first try which Billy Livingstone converted.

The rotation of the inter-change bench has been tweaked to maintain the intensity especially in the forwards with Dave McVernon making an immediate impact smashing his opposite number with a big hit. Rob Shaw was having a good spell firstly breaking the line then hacking the ball forward 40 meters and forcing a goal line drop out. From this repeat set the Atoms posted their second score after good hands got Billy Livingstone over the line, which he converted for the second time.

The battle of the Hookers was a fine contest around the rucks with Atoms captain Gary Lithgow up against Hindpool's ex-pro. Both had fine games and it was no surprise that both players picked up the man of the match awards for their respective teams.

The final period of the half is always a vital time and for the second week running the Atoms conceded a try just before the bell. What had been a pretty good defensive display had now allowed Hindpool to go in at the break within one score of the Atoms.With the breeze at their backs the Atoms were given a target as to the amount of kicks needed to maintain the pressure on the opponents line. Initially this tactic paid off with Callum Hall chasing down defenders with relish not allowing Hindpool any easy yards out of defence.

Unfortunately the kicks dried up as the errors increased. The Atoms further extended their lead when a great handling move on the last tackle saw the ball go through numerous pairs of hands finding full back Guy Richardson wide out on the right for his first score in his comeback season. In this period of pressure the Atoms went close on two further occasions with Liam Hall being held up over the line then Keith Hartlebury found himself in a great hole on for a poor pass to halt his momentum.

From this position the Atoms should have pushed the game away from Hindpool but they don't give two points away that easily up in Barrow. Hindpool's hooker took advantage of a kind bounce winning the race to touch the ball down for a try and when the Atoms lost Hartlebury for ten mins all the composure seemed to drain from the team. A great hit from centre Steve Graham seemed to halt a dangerous looking attack but inexplicably the referee called the tackle incomplete. From here Hinpool played on and scored close to the posts.

As the temperatures began to rise so did the alarming penalty count and with the Hindpool crowd right behind their team the Atoms found themselves under severe pressure. This pressure told as Hindpool's reserve prop crashed over with eleven minutes still to play. This took the Barrow side six points clear and a frantic last period ensued. Lee Harvey made a half break only to be brought down by what appeared to be another high shot that went unpunished. Harvey had to leave the field as the Atoms desperately tried to force the play as time was running out. Time did run out, as the Atoms couldn't find any clear-cut chances to bring them back into the game.

Special mention must go to Loose Forward Mark Walker who made an impressive 35 tackles during the game not to mention his numerous hit-ups with ball

Next Saturday: Lancashire Cup vs Pilkingtons ( St. Helens ) Away

Heysham Atoms: Richardson, C.Hall, Graham, B.Livingstone, MacItyre, N.Walker, Helme, L.Hall, Lithgow, O'Donnell, Shaw, Hartlebury, M.Walker, Res McVernon, P.Livingstone, Helliwell, Harvey.

Rugby league is a game about aptitude and how one commits themselves towards their individual task at hand, too many teams and coaches think that muscle power will win most contests this is a comment that is fraught with danger. Rugby league is 70% mental and 30% physical and until players coaches and officials understand this then the bash and barge attitude will remain.

Players needs to understand that their role in the contest of a team sport is to play a supporting role and try to focus on their individual roles that will bring the team to success.

Too many times sporting people turn up at the contest in a team event thinking that they just have to participate and the team will do well - this is the attitude that needs to be discouraged, the sporting person who understands their role in a team sport and turns up understanding that their individual role will complement to the teams ultimate success is moving in the right direction.

The current Atoms side are just starting to realise that each position of the 17 players that are about to embark on the contest must commit to their individual goals in order for the team to gain the momentum to succeed.

The Atoms player at the moment so early in the season are not fit enough and it is difficult for an amateur club of this nature to complete unless the individual pride that one has for themselves increases so that players are doing more for their well being away from the training park.

At the moment, I am still working on combinations and where most players are best situated without trying to hamper the team's success, there is a fine line between understanding the ability of the individual and trying to place players in a role that will be beneficial to them and to the team.

At Hind pool on Saturday with a score line of 18-8 in the favour of the Atoms everything was cruising with good structure, great direction and a self belief that was felt all around the ground until after the 55 minute mark, when the discipline factor was thrown out the window, players and officials alike thought that they could by their own naivety turn the game by other factors other than playing football.

In all my time of playing and coaching rugby league in Australia at the top level over the past 25 years I have never coached a team that had a penalty count against them 22-6. As the coach of the Atoms, I am happy to say 12 of these were for disciplinary reasons and in my personal opinion deserved of a penalty of this nature, the other 10 were simply poor unprofessional decisions made by a young referee that was influenced by his home town supporters and was simply out of his depth in a contest that deserved more maturity.

Mark Walker again was a stand out in the game with 34 tackles and 17 hitups which for this league is an absolute stand out, a lot of footballers at he Atoms could certainly take a leaf out of this young man's first two games of the season. Liam Hall and Keith Hartlebury gave it all is a losing side. There is some work that needs to be done on football skills and defensive patterns in the next few weeks but much more needs to be done on attitude.

Till next week, GO THE ATOMS!

Dalton 10 Leigh East 22

Bamber Bridge 14 Waterhead 18

Hindpool 24 Heysham Atoms 18

Glazebury Broncos 20 West Bank Swans 18

Ince Rose Bridge 46 Pilkington's Recs A 4

Leigh Miners 12 Blackpool Scorpions 38