08/06/2026
15s PRODUCE PROUD PERFORMANCE IN PLATE AGAINST PORTICO
After weeks of chasing their first victory of the season in the higher leagues after last years promotion. The Under 15s were desperate to find victory in a home fixture against Portico Panthers in the last 16 of the plate competition after being eliminated from the cup competition up at Seaton Rangers a few weeks before.
The Atoms have made games really hard work in the first 10 mins of every game this season, conceding points at will and failing to grab a foothold in matches. Today was to be different. The Atoms can soaring out at kick off with a high punt from Harvey A off the tee. Big tackles crashing in from Jack P and Callum W kept Portico within their own 20m line. A huge, collective hit from Harvey A , Kai S & Caleb R forced the turnover and gave the Atoms possession deep in the guests half.
The Atoms sort to the arm wrestle early doors with Robbie B and George S testing the opponents resistance in the pack with some surging drives, before a great handling move marshalled by leader Josh J producing a perfectly weighted pass to Centre Jacob M to step the last defender and crash over in the corner to take the lead. The Wind turning almost Gail force made kicking duties incredibly difficult for both sides but on this occasion, captain Harvey A stepped up and dispatched from the touchline perfectly to add the extras.
The dominance of the Atoms continued with Caleb R as ever leading from the front with countless tackles and Jack P taking on all comers in attack. A tad guilty at times of trying to over play with the ball in hand and not compensating for the heavy wind which produced a couple of unforced errors and conceding possession. Huge credit to our guests Portico, who soaked up the pressure and began to use the momentum to their advantage with a couple of big surges in the midfield. The smallest guy on the field Teddy B came to the aid of his team mates on multiple occasions with some great tackles in the midfield backed up by Chris B and Alex GH as the lads finally started to realise tackling in multiples makes it so much easier.
A big effort from Harvey A with a blindside shot was the hit of the day as he left his mark on the portico attack with a thumping shot on their big ball carrier to take back possession. The Atoms lost a bit of composure in their attack as they struggled to clear their lines by again over compensating with the wind. It was Josh J who brought his team to heal by demanding simple ball on clearances. A command read completely right from his team mates who managed to surge 60m up field from their own goal line by not trying to fight against the weather and use it to their advantage. Smithy was at the forefront who made a dash up the midfield quickly followed up by Denny R and Teddy B to bring the Atoms up to the 30m line. A quick play the ball found Harvey who sucked in the portico defence and released prop Kai S through a gap back inside to accelerate clear. As usual props tend to do when found in open space, the next few footsteps were daunting for the young prop. But nevertheless,Kai had a decision to make one on one with the full back. The correct decision was made using the hand off to skip past and glide under the posts to extend the lead for the Atoms. Conversion successfully made.
Chris B and Callum W continued to keep Portico at bay as the wide men with Porticos attention switching to the wings. Backed up inside by the centres Alex GH and Jacob Mc who worked tirelessly to assist their wingers.
Jack P drove through a gap and was unlucky not to beat the last man as a trailing arm just caught his jersey in the nick of time. Josh J aimed a kick with the intention to land in the corner, The wind yet again deciding it was in charge of all ball landings today making Josh’s job even more difficult to pin his opposition down from the boot. A spiralling kick, turning all directions in the wind led to a knock on from the portico full back and gave the Atoms a good set piece platform to play from. A quick move off the back of the scrum found Josh J in possession and finding Harvey A thrashing into a gap to go over and extend the lead. Conversion just missing.
Half time: Atoms 16-0 Portico
The Second half began with Portico firing out of the blocks with a statement with intent to not be blown away and to their credit they did just that! Big tackles coming in from both sides and with portico on the front foot it was Teddy B who again marshalled his troops in the midfield to get off the line and make a real go of the defensive effort.
Denny R answered his hookers call with a belting shot backed up by smithy who flung himself around like a man possessed to halt the portico advance.
The Atoms continued to make good progress with the instructions at half time to complete the sets and play the long game. This was beginning to show good signs until an early portico kick off the first tackle caught the Atoms off guard and scrabbling back towards their own line. Jacob Mc was sent to the naughty step for a professional infringement trying to help his winger out by slowing down the chasing defenders illegally. With 12 men on the pitch it was where it mattered for the Atoms to get together in this onslaught.
Great shots from Caleb , Jack P and Robbie B kept the opposition from crossing the line and Josh J and Kai S managed to dive to stop the ball being grounded as portico looked set to score. A turnover was conceded and Denny R who has moved into the pack saw his opportunity and darted through a gap to race half the pitch to switch the momentum back into the atoms hands. Harvey A again found Kai S on the inside ball to drive 30m again to the one on one situation with the full back not falling for the same decision as the first half and hurtled Kai down with 5 to go. Quick hands out wide fell agonisingly short at the end with the wind taking the ball just beyond the reach of Chris B who would have certainly scored.
With it all square at 13 each on the pitch again, emotions began to simmer ever so slightly with a lot of niggling around the ruck beginning. George S yet again took the ball on to run at the tired props of Portico followed up by Alex GH who doesn’t need a second invite to run a hard line at a brick wall. Teddy B was his usual predatory self with a couple of darting scoots giving his team the front foot. Quick hands wide found Jacob Mc fresh back from his rest to make light work of the last defender to score his second of the day. Another fantastic conversion from Harvey gave the Atoms a 22 point advantage with only 2 minutes left.
Portico, with one last throw of the dice really got stuck amongst the Atoms with a huge kick off the restart. A big shot on Kai S was held onto as he gained the advantage in the crash zone, but another passionate portico defender flying in from Kai’s blind managed to force the error and gain possession from the scrum. Again, catching the Atoms off guard, the Portico kicker decided to go early on the first kick and what a kick it was , the opposition winger read it superbly to win the foot race to the corner to score a well deserved try for the visitors. Conversion missed.
Full time: Atoms 22-04 Portico Vine
A win for the Atoms , but it meant much more to these proud players than what the scoreboard read. It has been a really tough start to life in under 15s with some bruising defeats, injuries and the loss of key players. So to come out on top for their first win in 6 games was huge for the squad. Something that the Atoms can now build with to try and keep the momentum going.
Huge credit to our opponents Portico yesterday who really came to give the Atoms a very stern and tough encounter. They should be very proud of their performance!
A big shout to yesterdays referee also who officiated fantastically all game in challenging circumstances with the blazing wind.
Try Scorers:
Jacob Mc x2
Kai S
Harvey A
Conversions:
Harvey A x3
Parents player of the day : - Jacob Mc
A fine day for Jacob on his return after injury. A real stalemate of the team and a truly inspiring performance from the centre collecting two tries and working tirelessly to cover every blade of grass on the pitch. Even with his sin bin, Jacob Mc did more than enough to be the deserving winner of this weeks Parents player of the day. Congratulations Jacob!
Oppo Man of the Match: Teddy B
Another player who plays with the intensity and competitiveness needed to play contact sports. Teddy was the warrior that the Atoms needed in the midfield today especially in defence. If it wasn’t him making the tackles , he was in his packs case about getting off the line and making them. A true leader’s performance and a fantastic game from Teddy. Well deserved mate!
Coach’s Man of the Match: Kai S
Kai was the heart and soul of the attack today with a huge amount of yards made especially with them inside balls. Worked himself into the ground in defence and stood up when it counted against the big portico pack with him back in his natural position of prop. A great try at the end of the first half from 30m out and a real control and intent of his work managed to get him to the Man of the Match award today. Congratulations Kai , a brilliant day for you
