Heysham Atoms 22 Leigh Miners Welfare 26
29th Sep 2007

North West Counties Div 3
The Atoms came agonisingly close to their first League victory of the season at the Trimpell on Saturday. The team had worked themselves into a winning position and with only 4 mins remaining they led by a slender four point margin. The bounce of a rugby ball can be cruel at times and the Atoms can count themselves a little unfortunate not to get something out of the game. Firstly a speculative kick out of defence landed between three Atoms defenders only to see the ball take a wicked bounce into the Leigh's wingers hands sprinting thirty meters to score in the left hand corner. The conversion failed from the touchline and brought the scores level at 22 all. The second piece of Atoms misfortune was on the last play of the game when Leigh's influential scrum half attempted a last ditch drop goal. He was put under enough pressure by the Atoms defenders and the kick was sliced way off target straight into his winger's hands who was following up the kick. All he had to do was to gather the ball and drop over the line for the decisive score. Having put so much into the game it was gut-wrenching for the Atoms but at least they knew they had contributed massively to a great game of amateur Rugby League.

The opening exchanges were fierce with both sets of forwards going toe to toe in an attempt to win the early ascendancy. As with every aspect in the game it was very close with the Atoms just about edging the yardage gains. The late withdrawal of Captain Gary Lithgow through illness meant a re-shuffle with Keith Hartlebury and Greg Sykes operating in the pivot roles, both slotting in seamlessly to these positions.

The Atoms got over the white-wash first when their veteran prop forward Gavin Helliwell showed great strength and determination to force his way over spinning out of a couple of would-be tackles. Billy Livingstone added the extras. A spate of tit for tat scores followed with Leigh's loose forward charging over from the back of a scrum for a converted try. The next Atoms attack saw the legendry 'scatters' move come into operation. This move has so many bodies in motion giving the ball carrier numerous options close to the line. The impressive Rob Shaw took a big hit for the cause but somehow kept the ball alive. The ball was moved quickly to Sean Weed who finished off the move in style.

With both sides clattering into each other as they were, fatigue was going to play its part. The Atom's sliding defence failed to move quickly enough to fill a gap on the inside and quick as a flash Leigh had taken the lead. Just before the break they added another leaving the score at 18-10 to the miners.

The first period of the second half was all about the Atoms who created numerous opportunities to score. Hard working Loose Forward Mark Walker was held up over the line on two occasions and Liam Hall and Andy Helme were tackled just short of the try line. Invariably in Rugby League this pressure tells and this was the case, as Liam Hall wouldn't be denied a second time barging his way over at close range. Sean Weed got his winger - Billy Livingstone - into space only for the score to be ruled out for a forward pass. Rob Shaw completed this period of dominance with an unstoppable drive that took him over the line close to the sticks. This was just reward for his efforts that he put in throughout the contest.

This score took the Atoms back into the lead at 22-18 with a little over 10 mins to play. Callum Hall and Mark MacIntyre found themselves constantly in the action and Lee Harvey brought off two vital one on one tackles that just couldn't be missed. As the minutes ticked away the tension increased as Leigh frantically tried to chase the game. The bounce of the ball and Leigh having the knack of having players in the right place at the right time secured victory for their side.

The improvements were there for all to see for the Atoms and they can take great heart from this performance. The hard work will pay off in the end with the brand of Rugby employed by the side, which is a definite pleasure to watch.

Heysham Atoms: Richardson, C.Hall, M.MacIntyre, Sean Weed, B.Livingstone, Sykes, Hartlebury, P.Livingstone, Helme, Helliwell, Shaw, L.Hall, M.Walker Res : N.Walker, Shane Weed, Harvey, O'Donnell.

Next Saturday the Atoms take the short trip to unbeaten league leaders Blackpool Scorpions Kick Off 2.30

LUCK.

They say in sporting terms that you make your own luck but after witnessing the game at Trimpell Park on Saturday the opposition seemed to have more than their fair share of it!!!

Taking nothing away from their win because they kept themselves in the contest and there good fortune only took place when they were within striking distance at the end.

It was one of the best all round performances from the Atoms this year in which they gave their all in a home ground clash that most people would have paid money to witness.

The feeling before the game was intense and the expectation of all players to perform peaked as the whistle blew to commence to contest.

The opening encounters between both sides with the ball and in defence set the standards to which the game had a great platform to be entertaining and a pleasure to the spectators to witness

The halfback for the Rangers delivered a game for his side that was exceptional and with his masterful kicking skills kept his team in the contest for the entirety of the game.

The luck that I mentioned earlier came late in the game when the Atoms had full control and leading, the halfback chip kicked with about 4 minutes remaining the ball bounced on its end between 3 Atoms players and into the hands of an opposition player who ran some thirty metres to score. This tied the ledger at 22-22 and with 1 minute remaining the halfback again with ball in hand took a shoot at field goal to win the game. The ball skewed some 30 meters away from its intended mark and into the hands of a Rangers player who walked some 5 meters to place the ball over the line for the win.

Although this was a gut wrenching outcome for all Atoms players, officials and spectators a lot of positives came out of the duel 78% completion rate with possession was outstanding and the amount of missed tackles from the week before was halved, this from a coaching perspective was very satisfying and goes to show that the things that we are working hard on at training are being put into the place in the games.

The usual players that I mention most weeks again played well but it was three players who normally run under the radar that stood up and dominated in their individual roles across the park, Rob Shaw had an outstanding game with some fierce running that I have not seen before and his defence was without question, Andrew Helme excelled at number 9 and led the Atoms around the Park in unquestionably his best game of the season, and Callum Hall, this raw talented youngster, really came of age with a good display of attack and defence.

In any sporting contest the more wins that you have the closer you are to a loss and the more losses that you have the closer you are to a win, this rings true with the Atoms and the way they played on the weekend the first is just around the corner.

Scott Saddler

Division 3

Leigh East 22 Ince Rose Bridge 23

Bamber Bridge 44 Glazebury 26

Heysham Atoms 22 Leigh Miners 26

West Bank Swans 4 Blackpool Scorpions 14

Waterhead 50 Pilkingtons Recs A 8