HEYSHAM NORTH WEST COUNTIES DIVISION 3

ROCHDALE MAYFIELD 14 POINTS

V's

HEYSHAM ATOMS 28 POINTS

The Atoms recorded their second away victory in the league, against fellow strugglers Rochdale Mayfield, and eased some of their own relegation fears.  The feel good factor returned to the Heysham side as they responded in positive fashion to their very disappointing defeat last week away at Orrell St James.  The team looked up for the contest with all 17 playing their part in what was a truly team performance.  A difficult cross-field wind caused a few problems for the kickers and receivers but it was Neil Walker who mastered the conditions better than his opposite numbers.

The Atoms victory stemmed from a near faultless opening 35 minutes in which they raced into a 22 point lead and looked every bit a good outfit that was playing somewhere near to their potential.

The Atoms opened their account with only 5 minutes on the clock when a Mayfield attack was halted by some good Atoms defending.  The ball came loose and the alert Stuart Lacey in the centre picked up the loose ball.  He was able to get the ball away in the tackle to his winger Jake Harrison who set off on an 80 metre sprint to the line, converted by Billy Livingstone.  Within 5 minutes the Atoms were over again as the same left hand combination of Lacey and Harrison had took advantage of good hands across the back-line, which came from a goal line drop out.  It was Harrison who benefited again from Lacey's neat hands and the Atoms were 10 – nil up.

The forward pack as a whole were outstanding all afternoon and looked a different unit that had trooped off the pitch the week previous.  Each forward in turn took advantage of a slow moving defensive line to give the Atoms great field position.  When a pack is rolling forward with such dominance it is usually the hooker who benefits most.  Heysham's hooker – Mike Marrin took the captains armband with Mark Walker out injured and continued his exceptional form that he has showed this season.  Combative and aggressive in defence, sharp in pass and thought, always in the thick of the action made Marrin a certainty to be in the Man of the Match places.

As the team trundled forward they gained extra yardage through Mayfield's indiscipline.  A penalty 10 yards away from the posts was momentarily debated about which option was best before a quick tap was definitely the right way to go.  The second play brought Liam Hall onto a short pass right up the middle of the ruck and he proved unstoppable from that distance.

The last try in this sequence came about after another long range kick and good chase.  Winger Gavin Winder hounded his man and a goal-line drop out resulted.  The Atoms showed good patience before Keith Hartlebury took route one to the line.  Again the reliable Livingstone added the extras.

At 22  nil and 5 minutes to the break Rochdale had their first period of sustained pressure on the Atoms line and brought an end to the Atoms purple patch.

Rochdale showed that they too could play a good brand of Rugby League scoring near the posts and giving themselves hope for the second half.

The momentum swung back to Mayfield straight after the break when the Atoms conceded a breakaway try after the ball went down in the middle of the park.  Mayfield's big props now started to find their running shoes and only some outstanding defending kept them at bay.

The Atoms back row of Scanlon, Shaw and the old warhorse Livingstone were magnificent throughout the match each getting over 25 tackles in the game.

Mayfield scored again to make the scoreline look very interesting at 22-14 to the Atoms.  The Atoms tightened up and threw Hartlebury and A Helme on to steady the ship.  The Atoms got back to completing their sets of six and on the back of this were able to play at the right end of the field.  Sean Weed in the right centre position started to see more ball and showed neat footwork on a couple of outside breaks.  Keith Hartlebury was help up just short before Chris Helme charged on to a short Marrin pass to put the game beyond any doubt for the Atoms.  This was a deserved try and one that shows a return to form for the Heysham front-rower.

Andy Helme continued with his little cameo role breaking the line after a Marrin inside pass, and only being held up inches short of the try-line.  The Atoms had some defending to do as the game drew to a close.  They showed enough determination and commitment to keep their line intact even as they went down to 11 players, after 2 yellow cards, in the closing stages.  This was a fantastic team victory and hopefully spur the team on to find some consistency in the remaining fixtures of the season.

Heysham Atoms:B Livingstone, G Winder, Sean Weed, S Lacey, J Harrison, N Walker, K Hartlebury, L Hall, M Marrin (Capt), C Helme, R Shaw, D Scanlon, P Livingstons.  Res :  A Helme, Sh Weed, M Pike, J Hamilton.

Next Saturday:   The Atoms play Rochdale Mayfield at home in league.  Kick off 2.30pm – Trimpell ground – All welcome.