Ellesmere Port 16 Trentham 6

A TOUGH opening-day fixture bet- ween last season’s two relegated sides went Port’s way.

On the back of a Cheshire Plate victory against Port Sunlight, the Port were quietly confident as they kicked off their South Lancs/Cheshire Division Three campaign.

The hosts’ first try came from a string of forward moves, with flanker Jim Shinton being driven over the line.

Fly-half Chris Carbutt added the conversion, quickly followed by a penalty, for Port to take a 10-0.

The remaining 20 minutes of the first half became a penalty exchange, both sides kicking two each to make it 16-6 going into the break.

The second half was a tight, hard-fought and bruising encounter.

Port were the more threatening overall but Trentham managed to hold out.

The visitors camped out in the Port’s half for the final 10 minutes but the home side defended as if their lives depended on it.

Ellesmere Port, whose man of the match was prop Niall Grant, travel to Capenhurst this Saturday.

In a tough opening match in the University of Salford North West League, a depleted Ellesmere Port 2nds lost 45-5 at St Edward’s OB. The 2nds host New Brighton 3rds this Saturday.