November 9th, 2008

The Heysham Atoms steady rise up the League table continued at the Trimpell on Saturday with their forth win in five games.  The Atoms edged a ten try thriller with the kicking of Billy Livingstone and Neil Walker proving the deciding factor to the final outcome.  This victory was a massive turn around from last season as Dalton won both encounters relativly easily.  Dave Crow proberbly had his most difficult selection of the team for the last couple of seasons as he had virtually a full, healthy squad to pick from.  Into the side came Australian Nathen Tait who comes highly rated from last seasons Atoms coach - Scott Saddler.  He has just finished his season down under playing for the Gungahlin Bulls in the Canberra competition were he won the player of the season and represented the Canberra District.  His inclusion into the squad adds further competition to places that has seen two Cumbrian new recruits - Dan Scanlon and Stuart Lacey - keep their places in the seventeen.  The Team entered the game full of confidence after good prepartion in the week and pre match had got them in the right frame of mind.  Unfortunatly for the Atoms the optimisum took a severe dent as Dalton came out of the blocks the sharper scoring early in the piece through some less than convincing Heysham defending.  The early exchanges became a bit of an arm wrestle as both packs looked for the mid-field dominance.  Hooker Mike Marrin's good distribution and sniping runs was starting to get his side on the front foot as the Atoms go forward began to kick in.  Callum Hall in the second row opened the game in his usual lively manner being availiable for work at every oppertunity in attack and defence.  An attack down Dalton's right wing involved most of the Atoms back division and it was full back Guy Richardson who rounded off the move close to the touch line.  The Atoms felt part of the game now showing a good structure to their play especially coming away from their end of the field.  Dalton have been one of the top scoring teams in the league and thier free flowing style was in evidence as the Atoms lost concentration on one play and they were put under pressure and paid the ultimate price conceding their second try of the game.  Captain Mark Walker was at his industrous best inspiring his troops to play at a high intensity.  A further attack down the the favoured left wing gave winger Stuart Lacey his first try in Atoms colours.  The ex-Wath Brow Hornets player finished off another smart handling move that opened up the narrow side to good effect.  A conserted effort close to Dalton's line was only interupted by needless Atoms penalties as Dalton were allowed to clear the danger zone.

Half Time 12 -8 to Dalton.

The Atoms turned around with the strong breeze at their backs and were hopeful of overturning the 4 point deficit.  When the coach makes changes from the bench he is looking for an impact and a lifting of the intensity levels and this he got from all substitutes.  Tait livened proceedings up with the speed at which he is used to playing the game at and the 3 forwards - Josh O'Donnell, Dave McVernon and Dan Scanlon - carried out their instructions to the letter.  The Atoms put back to back sets together after Hartlebury had pinned Dalton back with some intelligent kicking.  Guy Richardson made a searing break down the right centre channel before releasing Mark Walker to finish off the move scoring under the posts.  This was the Atoms at their most dominant and they made this pressure tell scoring another try and penalty in quick succession.  The try came after a Billy Livingstone break and a well executed offload from the robust Liam Hall.  On the end of the offload was Aussie Tait who showed great determination to get over the line.  With the Neil Walker converted penalty this gave the Atoms a healthy 22 - 12 lead. The Atoms took their foot off the gas allowing Dalton to hit back with 2 tries of their own as the Atoms discipline went hay-wire.  Too many penalties at the wrong end of the field had the nerves jangling as the Atoms held onto a slender 2 point lead.  A Mike Marrin try close to the line - his 3rd. of the season -  and an outstanding Callum Hall cover tackle settled the issue. 

The Atoms can be well pleased with the 2 points and can now look forward to more hard work as they make progress towards fullfilling their potential.

On Saturday Atoms winger / full back Gavin Winder played his 150th game for the club having progreesed into the first team some years ago from the Atoms under 16's side.

Heysham Atoms:Guy Richardson, Stuart Lacey, Billy Livingstone, Sean Weed, Gavin Winder, Neil Walker, Keith Hartlebury, Liam Hall, Mike Marrin, Lee Harvey, Rob Shaw, Callum Hall, Mark Walker Res Dave McVernon, Dan Scanlon, Nathen Tait, Josh O'Donnell 18th.Man Harry Pinner

On a freezing cold Saturday in the month of November
The boys put on a performance for us to remember
A remarkable victory against Dalton 28-24
and at this early stage a place well into the four

Callum Hall's performance was truely white hot
winning the man of the match says a lot
His game is improving on the pitch week to week
There's much more to come before he reaches his peak

The Aussie boy on the side line was frozen to the core
he said Crowy get me out there I can't take no more
his first try on English soil was simpy Unreal
I have no doubt the lads can see the real deal.

This little whippy guy that sits at the back
his elusive running always helps in attack
week after week he runs out and plays with pride
if the going got tough I'd want him on my side

Young Livvy is starting to play a good game
but what happened on Saturday was a crying shame
he got snotted by a Dalton player in the snoz
and for 10mins didn't know where the hell he was

Now Maz the centre is a player that's underated
when he flashes down the sideline the crowds elated
The game on Saturday he produced every skill
he makes it look easy almost like a drill

The Gripper, Harv's & Macca all were good
the pressure placed on from Dalton they withstood
the young gun O'Donnell drove it forward to the line
the goose gave another game that was mighty fine

There's a Atom player against Dalton that stood tall
Many Dalton players around him they did fall
he's respected by every Atom in the group
either directing traffic or defending they call him Soup

Silly penalties and mistakes are from a few
some in particular do it regularly it's nothing new
those people continually let down their club mates
getting dragged or dropped from a game may stop these traits

Victory is sweet I can feel it from far away
your equal 3rd spot its somewhere you must stay
your on a roll with 3 wins on the trot
start thinking about next week boys don't loose the plot

To win at the Trimpell on home soil is good
its the way that every game can be and should
as its been suggested a graveyard it should be
for every away team and for your supporters to see

Now, the poems will continue but only if you win
I'll get the inside stories and the gossip I can pin
to my cobbers on the playing field whether their bad or good
you might get a verse in my poem & I'll tell it like it should

GO the Atoms

Scott Saddler