Thatto Heath Crusaders 34-18 Heysham Atoms

Heysham Atoms never recovered from a poor start as they went down at St Helens side Thatto Heath on Saturday.

The newly-promoted hosts are making light work of life in the Premier League with three quick-fire tries seeing the Atoms 18-0 down after just 12 minutes.

After early errors had been punished it looked like being a long, painful afternoon for the Atoms but what the Heysham side lack in experience they make up for in enthusiasm.

The extra effort resulted in the Atoms turning around their performance which will stand them in great stead for future games as they won the next 68 minutes 18-16.

Kyel Dempsey made a good break for in the lead up to the Atoms’ first score, drawing a penalty from which Mitch Chapman picked the right pass for Antony Livingstone to reduce the arrears to 18-6 with the visitors’ first real attack.

Despite a severe examination the Atoms conceded just the one further score in the opening period with the hosts going into the interval 22-6 to the good.

Heysham were much improved in the second period with Michael Forrest crossing for the Atom’s second score after good work from Mark Walker and man of the match Jamie Cottle.

Straight from the kick-off Forrest nearly made it a double as he made a blistering 70-metre break only to be halted by a desperate last-ditch tackle.

The next score was always going to be crucial and after Dan Helme was held up over the line and Jack Lawton came close to a try it was Thatto who extended their lead to 28-12.

The Atoms were undettered though and it was Jack Edmondson who posted their third try with Billy Livingstone again converting meaning with a quarter of an hour to play the visitors were only 10 points adrift.

The final score of this fast, open game went to the home side however when a well-worked move proved too much for the tiring Atoms defence.

Andy Helme’s side are next in action when they host Widnes St Maries Vikings this Saturday.