BOUNCING back from a decisive defeat, Ellesmere Port comfortably claimed their second win of the season with a dominant performance.
Scoring the same number of points as they conceded last game, they put two scores between them and visitors Holmes Chapel to win 27-19.
Player-coach Dave Layder said: “Our performance was good and strong and focused on what we needed to do to see the game out.
“We were particularly strong on set pieces and had to focus on that.”
Chris Carbutt converted an early penalty which was backed up by a scrum firing on all cylinders, strengthened by the return of Steve Riley.
From a 30-yard scrum, Port attacked down the blind side, with Phil Gow and Joe Joinson engaging in some clever passing to put the latter through for a try.
Another Carbutt kick put them 10-0 up with only 15 minutes gone.
After another 10 minutes of deep attacking play in Chapel’s 22, plenty of recycled ball allowed Port to drive, again down the blind side, with forward strength and good support play. Gerry Phillips then got on the end of a flurry of passes to touch down.
Before the break, Chapel snaffled a try although Port regained confidence with a penalty after the break.
Layder said: “They came at us towards the end of the first half and through poor defence they got a try. But they missed two penalties and we were still feeling strong.
“At 20-7 they then had a better spell and drove us back into the corner.
“From the ensuing lineout they scored under the posts.”
The hosts felt hard done by when a suspected knock-on went unpunished, allowing Chapel to break for a third try to make it 20-19.
Layder added: “At that point we were a bit edgy. But we knew they had used up their luck and had their spell of pressure.”
Phil Gow then made the game safe after diving home for a try.
Steve Riley, along with Steve Jeffries in the lineout and Joe Joinson at scrum half, had a great game.
Port hope to take their new-found scrum strength and lineout driving to leaders Douglas on Saturday, December 15.
