HEYSHAM Atoms continued their impressive early season form in rugby league's North West Counties League with an away win at Wigan Keepers confirming their third place in the table.

Playing in the shadow of the JJB stadium, home to perhaps the most famous rugby club in the world, the Atoms started full of confidence after last week's big win over Eccleston and registered the first try through Russell Birkett after just six minutes.

With the wind and slope in their favour, they were totally dominant up the middle and always threatening out wide with Matt Craven and props McVernon and Harvey prominent.

A converted try put the Keepers back into the game but the experience of the Atoms pack steadied ths ship as loose forward Rob Shaw repeatedly drove forward.

Russell Birkett crossed the whitewash again to keep the Atoms in front at half time and then Shaw put the game beyond the home side's reach with a try down the left flank.

The Wigan side did register one more try but it was the Atoms who had the last word as Russell Birkett crossed to complete his hat-trick and a deserved victory.

Man of the Match: Dave McVernon.