January 17th, 2009

North West Counties Division 3

The Atoms just missed out on the 2 league points in a high quality game at the Trimpell on Saturday.  They competed hard and matched their more illustrious opponents for most of the contest but after gaining the lead with 18 minutes to play they proberbly feel a little dissapointed in how they finished the game.  The Widnes pack will be one of the biggest and most experienced packs of forwards the Atoms are likely to come across this season and when being directed around the park by a certain ex-international Bobbie Goulding they can posses a big threat.  The young Atoms players rose to the challenge and can be proud of the contributions they made to the team.  Daniel Ginnochio was outstanding in taking the ball forward closely followed by Josh O'Donnell who contiues to impress but both of these performances, good as they were, couldn't match that of centre Mike Holmes.  His accelleration and footwork are his trademark but his determination to win the collision and gain those extra few yards made him stand out from the rest on Saturday.

The Atoms had a shaky start to the game knocking on from there first possesion of the ball.  Bobbie Goulding let everyone know his intentions that he'd come to take the game seriously by barrelling his way over the try line from the first scrum of the game.  The Atoms yielded further points early in the piece when an intercepted pass on the 5th tackle put the team under pressure.  Gavin Winder made a vital cover tackle but couldn't prevent a cut out pass reaching the winger for a converted try that gave the Widnes side a 12 point lead in as many minutes.

It was now all about how the Atoms responded to this early pressure and to there credit they dug in, made some tackles and defended their line well.  This gave them the confidence to play with some structure when they did have the ball.  The length of the kicks were difficult against the wind so it was down to the hard yards down the middle to make progress.  Two penalties on the bounce piggy-backed the Atoms downfield and put them within striking range of the Widnes line.  Liam Hall made a half break hitting a good line down the middle.  Mike Holmes came back inside on the angle and side stepped around the cover for an excellent score that Billy Livingstone converted.  Coach Dave Crow sensed that his side were really up for this now and threw on Dave McVernon into the Loose Forward position.  He revelled in the freedom afforded by the position and looked to be getting back to his best form taking the ball up into the heart of the Widnes defence.  A great run out of defence from Billy Livingstone set up an attacking position just to the left hand of the post 30 meters out.  A short-side handling move involving Neil Walker and Stuart Lacey created space for winger Jake Harrison to score at the left corner flag that owed a great deal to the excellent lines of running employed.  Goulding couldn't be kept quiet for too long and one of his flat cut out passes finally opened up a compressed Atoms defensive line.  His centre, not for the first time, hit a great line striding over for St. Maries third try.  As time was running out in the Half the Atoms had one last attack.  A series of strong drives lead by the impressive Ginnochio took the Atoms within 5 meters of the Widnes line.  Neil Walker filled in at acting half back bringing Liam Hall onto a short pass.  Hall showed all the strength to get the ball down over the line and send the Atoms in all square at 16 all.

At the change round the Atoms knew they had the stiff breeze at their backs which would help build some territorial advantage if used right.  Walker, Helme and the lively hooker Mike Marrin alternated the kicking well between them pegging St. Maries back in their own quarter.  This pressure paid off when the Atoms forced the error and turned over possesion close to the Widnes line.  Swift hands moved the ball to the right and Mike Holmes scored his second try of the afternoon putting the Atoms in front for the first time.  This is perhaps were the Atoms should have pushed on and killed off the game but they began to over-play the kicking game and lost the width to the play that had served them so well in the opening 62 minutes. 

Goulding's ability to make room for himself and take the line on made life so much easier for his team-mates creating space with his wide passing game.  Perhaps in the de-brief the Atoms were guilty of not closing him down quickly enough but players of that quality will always find the room.  He was instrumental in wrestling the initiative away from the Atoms being involed in the final two tries.  Both scores had an air of controvosy attached to them when what seemed like forward passes were allowed to continue.  The Atoms tried as they might to get something out of the game but just couldn't find a way through one of the meanest defences in the league.  They can be all proud of their efforts and perhaps look at it and think that it is one they allowed to slip away.

Next Saturday league fixture away against League leaders Leigh Miners Rangers  K.O. 2 pm.

Heysham Atoms:B.Livingstone, J.Harrison, S.Lacey, M.Holmes, G.Winder, N.Walker, A. Helme ( capt ), L.Hall, M.Marrin, D.Ginnochio, J O'Donnell, L.Harvey, P. Livingstone, Res: M. Pike, S.Weed, D.Scanlon, D.McVernon