Atoms teams go down fighting

Both tasted defeat with the second string going down 48-30 at Wigan St Cuthberts A in the North West Entry League while the youth team lost 30-6 at Shevington Sharks.

In the A team’s contest, the Wigan moved away in the second period after the spirited Atoms put up an excellent first-half display when they scored four tries from debutant Shannon Morgan, Liam Hall, Matty Short and Billy Livingstone.

It meant the Atoms turned round 18-16 to the good but the second half started strongly for St Cuthberts and they soon took control of the game with a 32-18 lead.

Hall crashed over for his second and hooker Matty Humpage plunged over from a quick tap which brought the scores to within eight points.

St Cuthberts had the energy to see off the Atoms however as they finished with two tries to win this highly entertaining, open game.

The youngsters took just 13 players to Wigan to face Shevington Sharks and were soon reduced to 12 on what was a tough day for the club’s young guns.

Humpage deservedly scored the Atoms’ only try as he shot over the line close to the posts in the second half with Jack Lawton adding the extra two points.

But this isn’t a game the youngsters will want to dwell on for too long.