The Atoms returned to action on the wide expanses of the Lancaster and Morecambe College pitch and found Swan a very tough nut to crack.

A very pleasing first 40 minutes could not be replicated in the second half as the Widnes outfit scored five tries, all from long range, using their extra yard of pace that they possessed across the three-quarters to great effect.

The Atoms didn't help their cause by trying to force the final pass on numerous occasions when a cool head would have suited the team far better.

Individually the Atoms had the better of the yardage gains, especially in the forwards, but collectively they struggled to exert any kind of sustained pressure due to an alarming error count.

The stand out players for the Atoms on the day were Mike Holmes operating in the centres, the ever-reliable Guy Richardson at full-back and the rapidly maturing Josh O'Donnell in the second row.

The start was nip and tuck with very little to choose between the teams both showing a high percentage in completion rates.

The Atoms looked to edge the forward exchanges but the Swan were dangerous around the edges where the speed of the half-backs was to cause a problem all game.

After a tight first 15 minutes, it was the Swan who opened the scoring when their impressive hooker scrambled over from close range.

The Atoms tactics of a big powerful bench with lots of rotation to keep up the intensity of the battle around the rucks looked to be working as every 15 minutes a fresh pair of legs came into the pack to liven things up.

Dave McVernon's return to the starting line-up has been rapid since his shoulder injury and he showed no ill effects, taking the ball up strongly and, although not breaking the line, he was able to attract enough players to him to bring him down and that created gaps elsewhere.

Keith Hartlebury and Neil Walker directed their runners well off the back of this dominance. Mark Walker's powerful running got him his seventh try of the season as he cut back to the narrow side forcing his way over even under some heavy tackling.

Pete Livingstone and McVernon pulled off two important tackles that prevented further Swan scores before winger Gavin Winder rounded off a sharp handling move going in at the right corner flag.

A Swan penalty took the Atoms in at the break 8–6 to the good.

The half-time talk was all about maintaining pressure at the right end of the field by keeping possession and tiring the Swan runners by making them work hard defensively.

Unfortunately, the Atoms didn't heed these instructions as time after time they got into the right areas only to force the pass and let the Swan off the hook.

The dangerous Gavin Helliwell on the left wing got into open spaces but the Atoms couldn't capitalise on these breaks as the Swans soaked up some heavy pressure.

As the Atoms forced the play, it was the Widnes team who moved the ball wide quickly to expose a frail-looking home defensive line.

The Swan left-winger was favoured with three rapid scores coming from this area and taking the game away from the Atoms.

To their credit the Atoms put everything they had into rescuing the game but their frailties in ball control let them down.

West Bank's number 13 cut the Atoms open down the middle of the park with a side-stepping run finding his hooker on his shoulder to go under the black dot.

Mike Holmes and Guy Richardson made some big gains putting the Atoms in striking distance. A well-worked move involving lots of decoy runners gave O'Donnell enough space to blast over the line for his first try of the season which was converted by Billy Livingstone.

This gave the Atoms a faint glimmer of hope with 10 minutes remaining and 14 points behind but it wasn't to be as the Swan scored close to the final whistle.

Heysham Atoms: Richardson, Winder, Holmes, B Livingstone, Helliwell, N Walker, Hartlebury, Hall, Helme, McVernon, Weed, O'Donnell, M Walker. Reps: Harvey, P Livingstone, Heskey, Shaw.

This Saturday, the Atoms host Glazebury at Trimpell, 2pm.