Ellesmere Port 21Crewe & Nantwich 14
THERE is just no stopping in-form Ellesmere Port!
They chalked up their eighth consecutive victory in South Lancs Cheshire Three on Saturday, overcoming leaders Crewe & Nantwich just a week after accounting for fellow title rivals Prenton.
Third-placed Port are now just seven points from top with a game in hand on new leaders Prenton, who leapfrogged Crewe & Nantwich at the weekend.
The Port established a 13-0 lead after dominating the early stages, using the wind to their advantage.
A break by Port fullback Ant Jones led to a try from veteran flanker Jerry Philip, with Chris Carbutt adding the conversion along with two penalties.
Indiscipline then started to creep into the hosts’ game, with stand-offCarbutt sin-binned just before half time. The pressure from Crewe resulted in two penalties, making it 13-6 at the break.
A third penalty after the restart made it 13-9 but Carbutt’s return steadied the ship and Port extended their lead again when a clearance from Crewe was caught by Jones inside his own half.
He then set off on a mazy run, outpacing the Crewe defence out wide to score a superb solo try.
Carbutt then added another penalty for 21-9 to make the result safe for Port, who conceded a late unconverted try.
Port chairman Paul Watkinson said: “This was another great win for us to savour. Our defence was key to this win and it’s important to stress that our success is a club effort with a number of second-team players stepping up.”
Port host Port Sunlight this Saturday.
Ellesmere Port under 15s enjoyed a 19-15 victory over Bangor at the weekend, while the U11s saw off Crewe and Nantwich 26-12.
