Ramsey 14 Ellesmere Port 11
HEAD coach Steve Dorrington was in no doubt that a lack of discipline was to blame for Saturday’s defeat on the Isle of Man.
The Oilers were tied at 11-11 going into the final minutes of the match, but they then had Sammy Hubbert sin binned.
Worse was to follow as Port’s Fijian No8 Qaranivalu Saki was adjudged to have tripped an opponent while attempting to prevent Ramsey attacking. Saki was also sent to the sin-bin and Ramsey kicked the penalty to win the match.
Dorrington said: “If we hadn’t given so many silly penalties away and ended the game with 13, we would have had the game in the bag.
“We came away with a bonus point and a little bit of a morale boost. The guys played some really good stuff and the last hour of the game was excellent from both sides.”
A win for Ellesmere Port would have lifted them eight points clear of the relegation places in the South Lancs/Cheshre Two table.
Port travelled with a full squad of 18 players but some key players were missing due to work commitments.
It proved to be an evenly-matched contest and Ramsey were always in the game because Port gave away too many silly penalties and threw away too many scoring chances.
The visitors’ 11 points came from a try by Eddy Edwards and two penalties from Elliot Edwards.
The Oilers, however, handed the win to Ramsey thanks to their late indiscipline.
The Rees Developments man of the match award went to Rich McDonagh, a centre who had an outstanding game after being asked to play in the back row.
On Saturday, Port host leaders Crewe and Nantwich.
