Saturday 12th January 2002
GMB NATIONAL CUP ROUND 1
HEYSHAM ATOMS 18 KEIGHLEY ALBION 20

Playing their first game for 4 weeks Albion travelled to Morecambe to play North West Counties side Heysham Atoms, looking to kick-start 2002 with a win. And indeed Albion opened the better of the 2teams, when in the 2^nd minute a Kris Kirk break saw him breach the Atoms defence only to see the last pass go to ground.  Not dismayed by this Albion attacked again and good open play saw Andy Bowness`s long pass allowed Chris Atkins to stroll in for a try, the goal attempt hit the posts but it did not count but Albion had a 0 – 4 points lead on 5 minutes.

Albion’s open play was keeping the Atoms pinned in there own quarter, and a break from mid field by Gary Boocock allowed Andy Bowness to send Andy Parker on a diagonal run for a try under the posts, Kris Kirk added the goal to make it Atoms 0 – Albion 10 in the 14^th minute.

Not to be out done the Atoms hit back with good play from centre Brian Cambridge who sent winger Lee Morrison on a 40 metre run for the line out-pacing Albion’s defence on his way to score a try wide out.  The goal attempt was wide of the posts but they were back in the game at Atoms 4 points – Albion 10 points on 19 minutes. Albion seemed to be in control but a penalty for a head high tackle gifted the Atoms 2 points as Andy Garnett added the penalty goal to make it Atoms 6 – Albion 10 on 24 minutes.

Andy Bowness was pulling the strings for Albion with Martin Fryers and Gary Boocock making in roads into the Atoms defence with some strong running. Albion had a chance to go further in front but they spawned the goal attempt when they were awarded a penalty under the posts, they decided to run it wide and Simon Marsden went over in the corner the referee said no try as he had lost the ball over the line.

But Albion came back again and when Dean Brookes cleverly chipped the ball over the Atoms defenders the ball bounced nicely for the chasing Andy Bowness who went in for a well taken try, the goal attempt was of target but Albion had increased there lead with a score line of Atoms 6 points – Albion 14 points in the 31^st minute. This was also the last score of the 1^st half as the Atoms had worked hard to try and break down Albion’s defence and they had caused problems through the strong running of Brian Cambridge and Dave McVernon. But Albion’s open play had kept them on the back foot for most of the half. Half time Atoms 6 – Albion 14.

Albion started the 2^nd half much the same way as the had begun the 1^st when a good pass from Martin Fryers saw Andy Bowness go 20 metres before being tackled by the Atoms defenders. The Atoms half time pep talk had seen them change their formation and this put Albion’s defence to the test, and for the next 15 minutes it was a war of attrition as Albion seemed unable to put together the open play from the 1^st half, it was dour cup tie stuff as both sides struggled to make any impact on the game.

The Atoms were not going to make it easy for Albion as they had reached the last 16 and the last 32 in the last 2 years of the National cup and were not going to go out at this stage without a fight. They then got the break they were looking for when hooker Brian Gregory jinxed his way over for a try wide out, Keith Hartlebury added the goal to put a fresh complexion on the game with the scores at Atoms 12 points to Albion’s 14 points on 55 minutes.

Albion were not out of it yet and when Ian Spencer and Steve Wrench brought the ball back into the Atoms 22 area the home side gave away a penalty, Kris Kirk added the goal from this to give Albion a small breathing space with the scores at Atoms 12 – Albion 16 in the 66th minute. This score seemed to upset the Atoms and good work from Andy Parker was rewarded when he sent Kris Kirk crashing over for a try wide out, Kris Kirk again hit the post with the goal kick but it counted for nothing but the score line was Atoms 12 points Albion 20 points on the 74^th minute mark.

The Atoms were not out of it yet and again put Albion under pressure as the clock wound down, and in the dying seconds of the game hooker Brian Gregory dived over for his 2^nd try of the game, Keith Hartlebury kicking the goal to make it Atoms 18 Albion 20 on 79 minutes. From the restart Albion kicked the ball deep into the Atoms 22 area and on the 2^nd tackle the referee blew the whistle for full time.

The Atoms can take heart from the score as they had given there all in the entertaining if not at times dour cup tie, sound performances from 2 try Brian Gregory, Brian Cambridge and their Man of the Match Dave McVernon. For Albion there Man of the Match was Martin Fryers closely followed by Andy Bowness and Andy Parker. A mention too for youngsters Scott Bellamy and Matthew Bowness who came of the bench and played there part in the closely fought cup tie, Final Score Heysham Atoms 18 –Keighley Albion 20.

Next week Albion return to Conference league rugby and travel away to Castleford Panthers with a 2-00 kick off.
Terry Caddy. 

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