Last updated at 13:25, Wednesday, 14 April 2010

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NW COUNTIES

Dalton 39

Heysham Atoms 16

DALTON ran out comfortable winners at Kelland Park to clinch third place in North West Counties Division Three with the four points from this double-header.

The home side went into a 10-0 lead before falling 12-10 behind. However they recovered to score a further 29 points with just four in reply.

Dalton took the game to the Atoms and forced a drop-out after a Danny Sayle chip over the visitors’ line was gathered by full-back Callum Hall, only to find himself swamped by four defenders.

The hosts soon lost possession from the drop-out when Sayle’s intended pass to Walsh went into touch.

They did open their account on seven minutes when, after Darren Laisby and Regan were held short, the ball was moved to Dave Thompson, who hacked on. Sayle gathered, and in at the corner was Jonathan Walsh for 4-0.

Dalton pressed through Dave Thompson, Paul Jones and Walsh, who was brought down 15 yards out by Hall and Rob Shaw. From the play-the-ball, Armstrong lost possession near the line. On 15 minutes, Dalton increased their lead. Chris Banks and Paul Armstrong combined and Jones sliced through out wide to touch down, Thompson adding the goal for 10-0.

Heysham came more into the frame and reduced the deficit on 21 minutes.

Substitute Liam Hall took play downfield, only to be tackled. From the play-the-ball, Mark Walker parted to stand-off Billy Livingstone, and on his shoulder was half-back partner Neil Walker. He showed the ball to the Dalton defence before shooting through a gap to score and then convert, 10-6.

Three minutes later and the Atoms were ahead when Hall crashed over from close range for Walker to convert, 12-10.

Dalton had to respond quickly and they did as Heysham were caught offside.

The ball was moved sharply across field and Jones again shot through a gap at speed to go in unopposed, Thompson adding the touchline goal for 16-12.

From the re-start, Liam Hindle knocked-on, putting the home line under pressure, but they got off the hook when Steve Lacey was penalised for carrying the ball into the tackle with the elbow.

On 34 minutes, Dalton went further ahead. It was on the last tackle that Thompson lofted the ball to the corner and Walsh rose high to push it back inside for Sayle to gather and touch down, Thompson adding the goal for 22-12.

As half-time approached, Heysham had chances to put points on the board, Livingstone and Graham Lacey making good ground to the Dalton posts, only for Lacey’s intended pass to Alan Crookall to go astray.

The second half was barely three minutes old when Dalton went in for a fine try from Sayle.

The ball moved swiftly through the hands of Thompson, Baines and Luke O’Connor and Sayle cut inside neatly to touch down. Thompson once again added the goal for 28-12.

Dalton squandered a chance when, after Regan had made a fine break downfield, O’Connor lost the ball with the line open.

At the other end two minutes later, Heysham also messed up when Walker’s pass to winger Jake Harrison went straight into touch.

And when Nixon was taken high in the tackle in front of the posts, Thompson stepped up with the two points from the penalty kick for 30-12.

Full-back Nixon was again involved on 61 minutes when he had the ball ripped from his grasp, Thompson once more on target, 32-12.

Nixon then sent Jones clear, but full-back Callum Hall halted his progress on halfway with a timely tackle.

On 68 minutes, Thompson broke from inside his own half.

He put in a cross kick and Baines, in support, gathered to race over, Thompson obliging with the goal for 38-12.

Heysham worked hard for points and were rewarded when Hall crossed for his second try on 74 minutes, making it 38-16.

But it was marksman Thompson who had the final say when he sent over a 30-yard drop-goal.

Dalton: Nixon, Walsh, Sayle, Jones, Worsley, Thompson, Baines, Flynn, Wilkinson, Regan, Hindle, Laisby, Armstrong.

Substitutes (all used): Watson, Banks, O’Connor, Marshall.

First published at 13:12, Wednesday, 14 April 2010
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk