Heysham Atoms 10 points vs Woolston Rovers (Warrington) 44
Kukri Northwest Counties Division 3

The Atoms couldn't repeat the heroics of last Saturday as the Heysham side had a quick turn around against promotion chasing Woolston from Warrington. The Atoms were forced into 5 changes from the side that were in 40 seconds of victory 7 days earlier but this week they never looked like victory could be theirs. The biggest concern for The Atoms coaches was the lack of application to the basic principals of defending especially in their one on one tackling.

The opening 20 mins was a tight affair with the Atoms gaining some territory close to Woolstons line, but this pressure was to easily relieved through a penalty or an unforced handling error. The Woolston loose forward picked up where he left off last week terrorising the Atoms less than convincing right hand defense. The Woolston hooker was also a constant threat jumping out of half back at will, nullifying the Atoms marker defense, taking easy yards for his team.

Although it took Woolston a while to get going they showed good patience to break down The Atoms line and once the first try had gone in the confidence grew and The Atoms found themselves under constant pressure.

With not much purchase down the middle channel Mark Walker and Stuart Lacey made good meters a couple of passes wider than the ruck and this looked like an area that The Atoms could exploit. Chris Helme went close before the hard working Daniel Ginocchio bashed his way over from short range taking 3 defenders with him.

The Atoms were further hampered as half time approached loosing Brett Ashley to injury and Al Crookall to the sin bin after being judged to have committed a professional foul reducing The Atoms to 12 men for a 10 min spell either side of half time.

Half time 22 points - 4 to Woolston

Any hopes that The Atoms had of working their way back into the game were dashed immediately after the re-start as 2 quick trys were conceded against a non existent defense. At this point it would have be easy to throw the towel in and take the severe beating but for the next 20 mins The Atoms rolled up their sleeves and gave it a real shot. More width was the key to The Atoms improvement with the pivots - walker and Livingstone - using the runners wide out. As in the first period Daniel Ginocchio was well to the fore running hard and tackling with the same commitment.

In recent weeks Billy Livingstone has been The Atoms most potent threat and today was no different. he found the smallest gap to get through the first line of defense and then put on some great footwork to round the full back for another excellent individual score which was his 16th try of the season. he also converted the try to bring The Atoms into double figures.

Veteran winger Gavin Helliwell went close in the right hand corner and the Livingstone/Lacey/ Walker combination looked the most likely source of anymore Atoms points but they just couldnt force their way over the line.

The end of the second half was as dissapointing as the opening conceding to soft trys giving the ending score line a lopsided look. The Atoms need at least one more victory to guarantee division 3 status for next season and with only 2 of the remaining 6 games at home saturdays game against Hindpool takes on massive importance.

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

Heysham Atoms:BRETT ASHLEY, GAVIN WINDER, STUART LACEY, AL CROOKALL, JAKE HARRISON, NEIL WALKER, BILLY LIVINGSTONE, SHANE WEED, ANDREW HELME, CHRIS HELME, DANIEL GINOCCHIO, ROB SHAW, MARK WALKER, MARTIN PIKE, GAVIN HELLIWELL, ANDREW TAYLOR, LIAM HALL.