National Cup Round 1

Heysham Atoms 28 points

vs

Bamber Bridge 6 points

The National Cup threw up this unlikely derby match at the first round stage.  Matches between these two clubs stretch right back to the Atoms inaugral season of 1986 with ever match up since being fiercely competative and all action affairs.  The Atoms although not spectacular in victory always had enogh in reserve to see off a spirited and committed Bamber Bridge side.  Both coaches would have been dissapointed with the error count and poor completion rate but the Atoms had the edge in creating and taking chances at vital stages throughout the contest, getting over the white wash on five occasions.

A combination of nerves and over eagerness accounted for a glut of handling errors in the opening quarteras both sides tried to stamp their authority on the game.  The ever improving centre Al Crookall got his first Atoms try of the season after intercepting a wayward pass on his own 20 metre line and outsprinting the cover for an excellent opening score.  Neil Walker took over the kicking duties and made the score 6 nil with a succesful kick.  The Atoms were swinging between dominant forward play and coughing the ball up too easily in equal measures.  Mark Walker was winning all of his collisions and as all good loose forwards do he was alternating his running and passing game to good effect.  An attack down the right flank saw Walker find in form winger Gavin Winder with a sharp cut out pass.  The winger finished in style close to the flagwhich was again converted by Neil Walker.  The momentum had firmly swung in the Atoms favour and a series of forceful drives have given the Atoms great field position.  Neil Walker utilised 2 dummy runners to create a gap for full back Callum Hall to exploit.  He too finished off the move in some style taking the half time score to 18 nil with this converted try.

The second period of forty minutes was a stop -start scappy affair.  The class in the Atoms back row - Walker Hartlebury and Weed - always kept the Atoms on the front foot as the game became more and more bogged down in the middle of the park.  Bamber Bridges attacking oppertunites had been somewhat limited in the first half from some solid Atoms defending and an error count to match the Heysham side.  Once in range they showed what they could do scoring one try and being held up over the line on 2 other occasions after some determined Atoms defending.  A completed set and a good kick and chase was all it took to settle the Atoms back down into their routine.  A series of three quick play the balls created spaceon the Atoms left.  The returning Mike Holmes revelled in the space cutting inside the full back and going in for his first try of an injury hit season.  Soon after Sean Weed was rewarded for his considerable efforts when he supported a Billy Livingstone 40 yard inside break down the middle of the park.  Livingstone was caught by the full back but superbly off loaded the ball in the tackle to the supporting Weed.

The game fell away after this as cheap shots and raised elbows in the tackle became more prevellent.  The referee did well to keep a lid on things as a couple of yellow cards were handed out.  The Atoms progression to the second round is rewarded with a trip to Warrington to take on premier league side Bank Quay Bulls in the new year.

Next Saturday away to Langworthy Reds ( Salford ) in league 2pm k.o.

Portrait Pools.com Men of the Match:
1. Mark Walker
2. Sean Weed
3. Billy Livingstone

Heysham Atoms:C.HALL,G.WINDER,S.LACEY,A.CROOKALL,J.HARRISON,N.WALKER,B.LIVINGSTONE,SHANE WEED,M.MARRIN,R.SHAW,SEAN WEED,K.HARTLEBURY,M.WALKER res: G.LACEY,L.HARVEY,M.HOLMES,A.HELME