Leigh Miners Rangers 54 Vs Heysham Atoms 0

Mark Norris Building Services North West Counties Division 3

January 24 th 2009

The Heysham Atoms travelled to the league hotbed of Leigh with a team shorn of its chief playmakers due to 'man-flu' and other prior commitments. However, one player's loss is another's opportunity in sport and into the breach stepped some of the Atoms' younger players, and other players making their way back to fitness who might not, in more fortuitous circumstances have been pressed into action quite so soon.

However impressive the commitment, the Atoms' make-shift team was no match for a young top-of-the-league Leigh side who were out to make a name for themselves. The 16-year old scrum half for the home team had been plucked from the club's under-18 team for his debut. This illustrated quite clearly the difference in the depth available at the two clubs in lean times, and perhaps the direction the Atoms should go in terms of their future development.

A heavy pitch, a low winter Sun, and a fine day to boot, the scene was set for a classic game of rugby league. The experience, if not the fitness, in the Atoms team was in the formidable pack, whose size advantage over the young Leigh team should have been a huge bonus.

The game started brightly with the Atoms kicking off to the Miners and the home team steadily progressed up the pitch completing their set with a good territorial kick deep into Atoms' territory.

The Atoms' first touches were promising too, with winger Gavin Winder returning the ball strongly at the Leigh line. Billy Livingstone at scrum half began distributing well. Loose Forward Rob Shaw took the ball up and made good yards. Liam Hall was keen to get in on the action and as usual dominated his opponents with his aggressive hand off. The set was completed with an early kick downfield from Stand off Neil Walker.

A break from Leigh was quickly followed by a penalty at the play-the-ball, piggybacking the home team down field into a strong attacking position. Fortunately the visitors were saved by a knock on early on in the set of six. The Atoms once more gained possession from the scrum and played out a controlled, sensible set, with hard work from Captain Pete Livingstone and Dan Ginnocchio leading the way.

On 6 minutes, the downfall started with a try leaked on the last tackle. 6-0 to the home side and some of the returning Atoms' players were starting to visibly look lethargic after the frenetic opening sets of the game.

A spell of high quality error free rugby completed the opening quarter with both teams completing their sets and testing each other out.

Lack of respect for the referee lead to an unforgivable penalty against the Atoms. This led directly to the home team's second try.10-0 to Leigh.

Gavin Winder left the field injured, and was replaced by Joe Pyrah.

Successive tries in successive sets quickly reduced the Atoms' chances of competing for the competition points. Frustratingly, the tries were coming on the last tackle, and served to simultaneously starve the Atoms of possession.

The dreaded P word - Pride - was mentioned without the team even having made it to half time. Further tries quickly brought the score to 28-0 at the rate of nearly a point a minute.

The Atoms did gain some rare possession in the second quarter with Dan Scanlon and the effervescent Liam Hall never giving up the fight, despite the frustrating scoreline.

The half ended with a final try down the right flank, the result of an overlap which the Atoms' compressed sliding defence could not match, bringing the score to 32-0.

The second half saw a little improvement from the Atoms, but nevertheless were still decidedly the second best team. John Hobbs made his Atoms debut and showed what a handful he will be when fully fit. Great technique in the tackle and attracting a number of defenders when taking the ball up, Hobbs clearly adds a great deal to the Atoms' pack.

Although clearly the Atoms team was disjointed, with forwards playing in the backs and key players missing, a number of players put in some fine individual efforts. Chris Helme joined the action and gained further valuable match fitness, whilst Shane Weed continued his comeback from his broken leg, with more valuable game time under his belt.

On a day when the ball rarely got out to the three quarters, it says volumes that one winger Martin Pike got into the Man of the Match points, and replacement winger Joe Pyrah also stood out with a number of useful contributions from dummy half.

Billy Livingstone was picked as the most damaging player for the Atoms on a disappointing day at the office.

Next week, the Atoms host Hindpool (Barrow), a derby match that always stirs the blood. The last fixture saw Hindpool win a controversial game 8-6. KO 2.00PM, Trimpell, all welcome.

Team: Gavin Winder, Martin Pike, Dave McVernon, Mark Mcintyre, Jake Harrison, Neil Walker, Billy Livingstone, Liam Hall, Dan Scanlon, Daniel Ginnochio, Pete Livingstone, Josh O'Donnell, Rob Shaw. Reserves: Shane Weed, Chris Helme, Joe Pyrah, John Hobbs