November 15th, 2008

The Heysham Atoms were left without a game on Saturday due to Glazebury disbanding before the start of the season and no suitable opponents could be found.  This was a shame as the Atoms wanted to maintain the momentum they had built up over the last five weeks gaining 4 victories in this period. 

This saturday the Atoms have a break from League rugby playing Hindpool ( Barrow ) in the first round of the North West Counties Challenge Cup at the Trimpell ground kick off 2pm. 

Last seasons league enconters against Hindpool showed there is very little to choose between the two teams with the Barrow outfit winning the home game 24 - 18 then the Atoms gaining revenge at the Trimpell with a 30 point to 4 victory.  In that game Billy Livingstone weighed in with 2 tries and 3 conversions with Liam Hall, Mark Walker, Gary Lithgow and Graham Donnovan adding the other scores in an impressive victory. 

The league table shows Hindpool one place behind the Atoms with the same amount of wins but an inferior points difference - an area the Atoms must try an attack showing perhaps a leaky defence especially away from home.  

The squad has a clean bill of health which is usually unheard of at this stage of the season.  The competition for places is as fierce as any time in the last five seasons and will keep every player on their toes knowing that only their best will keep them in the side. 

The introduction of Aussie Nathen Tait, Cumbrians Dan Scanlon and Stuart Lacey and the progression of youngsters Ginnoccio, O'Donnell, Hesketh, Dorrington and Skelly has been great to freshen up the squad and complimented the more experinced players really well.  This all adds up to some difficult selection problems but at least it is being done from a position of strength and hopefully the Atoms can progress to achieving their goals of playing to their full potential throughout the season.