THE Heysham Atoms recorded their seventh league victory of the season by doing the double over their nearest geographical rivals Bamber Bridge.

Over the last couple of weeks, it has been the younger members of the squad claiming the headlines but the balance was redressed as the 40-somethings again showed they have lost none of the enthusiasm.

Peter Livingstone was destroyer-in-chief coming off the bench to claim an impressive hat-trick. Winger Gavin Helliwell showed he still knows how to get to the try-line with a 55-yard opening score and pivot Andy Helme formed a neat partnership with Keith Hartlebury as they dominated in their roles.

The Atoms played against the wind in the first half but Liam Hall set the tone with a couple of massive hits stopping the opposition in their tracks.

The sessions in the build-up to the game had involved bringing the outside backs more into the play than in previous weeks.

Billy Livingstone made an outside break putting his winger Helliwell away into space. He ran over half the length of the field before running over the full-back on his way to the line.

A number of needless penalties halted the Heysham momentum and Bamber Bridge took full advantage to bring the scores level at 4-4.

This was the closest the teams were to get as the Atoms dominated the next quarter of the game. James Hesketh was making some valuable yards close to the rucks, making room for Walker and Lithgow as the attacks came thick and fast.

Livingstone Snr scored with his first touch of the ball after a quickly-taken penalty and Lee Harvey got one of the biggest cheers of the day scoring from a set move close to the sticks.

This was the hard working forward's first score at senior level in 77 starts that owed a lot to the run of Dave McVernon who set up a great position for the move.

The dominant Atoms maintained the intensity and a flowing back move got centre Simon Brooks into a gap, running an exceptional line.
These quick-fire scores had taken the scores to 22-4 in the Atoms' favour.

Pete Livingstone barged over for his second just before the break but Bamber Bridge gave themselves something to play for in the second period with a try in the closing seconds of the half. to make it 28-10 at half-time.

As in the first half, the Atoms conceded territory with a series of penalties which, again, was taken full advantage of as the dummy half forced his way over close to the line.

Normal service was resumed as full-back Guy Richardson peeled away to the blind side to score his 10th try of the season.

Brig just couldn't be shaken off and, although they had limited chances, they always seemed to be able to come up with a score when at the right end of the field.

Their impressive prop smashed his way over for a deserved score putting them back within distance at 32-20.

Hall was dispatched to the sin bin for 10 minutes as the referee adjudged him to be too aggressive in the tackle.

The Atoms made light work of their inferior numbers and continued in their attacking vein. Walker was held up over the line before Lithgow opened play up with a dart, finding Walker on his shoulder who took the contact and outstretched an arm to claim the try.

Young Ben Dorrington nearly got on the scoresheet only to be brought back for a forward pass.

Shane Weed capped a fine display with a try, latching onto a short pass from Lithgow after a Liam Hall charge at the line.

The final action of the day was fittingly down to Pete Livingstone who collected his hat-trick, showing a turn of pace, down the right wing to score in the corner.

Heysham Atoms: G Richardson, B Dorrington, B Livingstone, S Brooks, G Helliwell, K Hartlebury, A Helme (capt), L Hall, G Lithgow, Shane Weed, J Hesketh, J O'Donnell, M Walker. Res: P Livingstone, M Holmes, D McVernon, L Harvey.