Heysham Atoms 24 points, Blackpool Stanley 6 points

28 February, 2009

The Atoms targeted this fixture as a must win game especially being at home and playing their local rivals who were languishing at the foot of the table.  The Atoms did the double in this derby fixture which was credited to a workmanlike performance without too many frills but effective in gaining the two vital league points.  The Atoms had prepared well for this game and wanted to get out of the blocks quickly as other sides have done in recent weeks.  The first couple of sets were compleated with out too much trouble gaining good early field position from the boot of Neil Walker.  A good indication of how well the team is up for the challenge is how well the team chases these kicks and this was right on the money right from the start.  The forwards had been given something to prove by the coach and they heeded his advice looking full of running and enthusiasm.  Early pressure on Blackpool's line brought a score for hooker Mike Marrin who dived over from short range close to the posts.  Billy Livingstone smacked over the extra two points to give the Atoms just the start they had planned for.  This feel good factor was short lived as the remainder of the half became a scrappy affair with too many unforced errors and an alarming penalty count that mounted up against them, which was very frustrating for the fans and coaching staff alike. 

Blackpool tried to play with a bit of width as the route down the middle was being controlled by the Atoms pack.  Martin Pike and Mike Holmes had to be on their guard when defending outwide and both pulled off some effective tackles with the former making an important tackle into touch.  Disaster struck on the twenty minute mark when the Atoms tried to play too much football coming away from their own line.  One pass too many was intercepted and Blackpool's scrum half sprinted 25 yards to score under the posts.  The Atoms had to reasses their tactics and back to basics was called for.  The mistakes continued and therefore coach Dave Crow decided to change a few personnel from the bench perhaps sooner than he would have liked.  Liam Hall made an immediate impact coming into the loose forward position.  He peeled of the back of his first scrum blasting through the first line of cover and showing enough determination to get the remaining 40 yards for his 6th try of the season.

Half Time 12-6 to the Atoms

The Half time talk focused on the Atoms going straight before they tried to go wide in an effort to bring the error count down which was keeping Blackpool in the game.  The second half was an improvement as the Atoms had a monopoly in possesion and field position.  Ex St Martins player Ali Lippock came on to make his senior debut in the centre position.  He looked very capable in both attack and defence and will add some further competition in the outside backs positions.  Billy Livingstone has played in every back position this season and has looked adept in every one.  His versatility is priceless and with Guy Richardson and Ben Dorrington both unavailiable he has made the full back berth his own.  He consistantly gets his side moving forward with his kick returns which relieved any kind of pressure by the Stanley side.  A resurgent Mark Walker returned to the action after a short spell on the bench which seemed to have cleared his head.  He put the Atoms further ahead scoring a fine individual try showing good footwork after Lippock hit a great line in the middle of the park.  It was all Atoms at this stage but extended pressure was released by the Atoms not showing enough patience close to the line.  A derby match wouldn't be the same, between these two sides, without a major altercation and sure enough it came on the 65 minute mark.  Both teams stood toe to toe and traded punches before order was restored as the yellow card was brandished to one from each side.  As the calm returned the Atoms scored the try of the game from deep in their own half..  Livingstone made good yards and manufactured a fast play the ball in his own 20.  Mark Walker 'scooted' away from the dummy half breaking down the left. Hooker Mike Marrin worked hard to get in support and received a well timed pass and sprinted 60 meters to the try line rounding the full back in the process for his second of the contest.  Billy Livingstone made it 4 from 4 with another faultless kick.  Mark Walker rounded off proceedings with two bone crunching tackles that brought him the acolades from his team mates and a welcome amount of spending money from the match sponsers.

Heysham Atoms: B.Livingstone, M.Pike, S.Lacey, M.Holmes, J.Harrison, N.Walker, A.Helme, D.McVernon, M.Marrin, D.Scanlon, R.Shaw, P.Livingstone, M.Walker. Res : S.Weed, C.Helme, L.Hall, A.Lippock