Lancashire Cup Preliminary Round

September 13, 2008

The Atoms forays into the Lancashire cup in recent seasons have proved fruitless and again the Heysham side went out at the first attempt. First division outfit Shevington Sharks from Wigan played an expansive brand of Rugby League that must have been pleasing to the eyes of the neutrals in the crowd, with the immaculate Trimpell pitch complimenting their style of play to a tee. The Atoms competed well in the middle of the park but the game was won and lost on the edges were Shevington had the edge in speed and guile.

The Atoms had a fresh youthful look about the selected side but late withdrawls from Guy Richardson and Keith Hartlebury meant the old guard of Bryan Cambidge and Andy Helme were called in as last minute replacements, lifting the average age considerably. Last seasons captain - Gary Lithgow - was also in the squad for a guest appearance, slotting into the hooking role that he had made his over the last two seasons.

The opening exchanges were good for the Atoms compleating four out of the first five possessions and putting on the necessary chase. Shevington showed their intentions by kicking early in the tackle count on a number of occasions trying to put pressure on with their speedy outside backs. Over worked full back Bryan Cambidge was being asked plenty of questions fielding some tricky kicks but was always up for the challenge. Mark McIntyre had to pull off a try saving tackle when Shevvy's scrum half again kicked early on the third tackle.

The Atoms were holding on to the ball well but such was the kicking game from Shevington it was all done at the wrong end of the field. The Atoms had to withstand a repeat set on their line before their wing / centre combination found an opening to take the first score. The conversion was good and this was the start of an immaculate nine from nine conversions from the scrum half

On the twenty minute mark the Atoms drew level when a set of sustained drives close to the line, headed by Mark Walker, gave an opportunity to Liam Hall. As with previous seasons the big prop forward knows his way to the line and he stretched out a long lever to place the ball on the white wash. Billy Livingstone added the conversion.

Josh O'Donnell and Dan Ginoccio came off the bench and both were into the action immediately as the game demanded. With ten minutes remaining in the half it was the Wigan side who took the game away from the Atoms. The Atoms right hand defence was targeted and three quick back to back tries were scored as the ball was pushed into wide areas were the Atoms just couldn't cope. This was a sickening blow as offensively they had done well and played to the pattern asked of them from the coaches.

Half time 6:24 Shevington.

The Atoms troubles were further compounded when a score right down the middle of the park, in the first minutes after the break, knocked any hope of a comeback. The game was certainly over as a contest 5 minutes later when a series of missed tackles gave the Wigan side a thirty point cushion. McIntyre saved the Atoms again chasing back hard to kick the ball dead and the lively Callum Hall forced a couple of errors with his all action style of play.

The Atoms began to play a little bit more off the cuff when in possession finding some holes in the middle of the park. First Ginoccio set up an attack after a strong run then Rob Shaw almost reached the line on a power play on the last. Second Rower Shaw was running some good lines and finding the holes in the Shevington defence. He made a 40 yard break keeping the ball alive to Billy Livingstone who was up in support. The move continued with some neat inter passing between winger Mike Holmes and prop Pete Livingstone which took play into Shevington's 20 meter area. Lithgow found Liam Hall on the next play taking the Atoms ever closer to the line. Andy Helme attacked the retreating defence wrong footing the defenders and forcing his way between the posts for a well constructed try. Again Livingstone added the further two points.

At 12:36 the score board had an air of respectability about it but this was blown away as the Atoms tired in the Last fifteen minutes although the next two scores had an air of good fortune about them. The first came from an intercepted pass and the second from a huge knock on that summed up the Atoms defensive effort. The last try was one to savour as the ball was transferred from one side of the field to the other with some excellent handling and support play. Even some last ditch tackling from Mike Holmes couldn't prevent the score and shelve the Atoms Lancashire Cup Campaign for another season.

Heysham Atoms: Cambidge, Holmes, B.Livingstone, Marrin, McIntyre, N.Walker, Helme, L.Hall, Lithgow, P.Livingstone, C.Hall, Harvey, M.Walker Res: O'Donnell, Ginoccio, McVernon, Shaw.