Heysham Atoms 38-24 Walney Central

Although the Atoms made a shaky start, they settled their nerves on the eight minute mark by taking the lead as a neatly placed kick bounced kindly into captain Jamie Cottle’s hands.

He was able to collect the ball and brush away the defenders in one decisive move, Kyel Dempsey stepping up to slot over the extra two points.

Walney showed they were here to play and after a big battle for the middle ground they were able to post their first points scoring close to the posts.

The Atoms got back into their attacking stride as David Maka made a serious dent in the Walney line.

The ball was transferred to the right edge and leading try scorer Jack Edmondson ploughed through two defenders to score his first try.

Winger Dempsey burrowed his way under a couple of challenges to score the Atoms’ third try of the contest wide out on the left.

Walney took advantage of the Atoms going down to 12 men for 10 minutes, bringing the scores level at half-time at 14-14.

Early in the second half, Edmondson scored his second of the game, taking a short pass from Helme and continuing on a direct arc that took him over the try line, and Maka then got his first try in Atoms’ colours as he finished off a handling move down the left edge.

A well constructed Walney try stretched the Atoms as the winger found enough room to squeeze in at the left corner but the Atoms picked up the pace again and Callum Hall and Dan Rodriguez made big charges for the line before hooker Josh Whyke sniped a try as the pressure took its toll.

Man-of-the-match Jamie Cottle ran 90 metres for his second which had the large crowd on their feet with a spectacular try down the left touch line.

He converted from wide out on the left for the third time in the game, pushing the Atoms into a comfortable 20-point lead. Walney’s big number 17 forward had taken and given out some flak during the game and he fittingly rounded off the scoring in what was an entertaining cup match to the left of the posts.

*Prior to the game, Heysham Atoms Under-9s took on Orrell St James, who play two divisions above the Atoms, and the Under-11s took part in an exhibition match.