Ellesmere Port 19 Oswestry 14
ELLESMERE Port bounced back from their mauling at Marple with a narrow home win in South Lancs/Cheshire Two on Saturday.
The result was built around an excellent kicking display by fly-half Chris Carbutt and it saw the Oilers quickly banish memories of the previous weekend’s 58-13 loss at Marple.
Carbutt put the hosts ahead with an early penalty and then stretched the lead to 10-0 when converting a try by fullback Anthony Jones, who had crossed the line following a well worked penalty move.
Port lost scrum-half Dan Burns to a head injury mid-way through the first half. He was replaced by new boy Ian Hawkins but another reshuffle was soon required by the Oilers when prop Elliot Edwards had to go off injured.
The two enforced changes let Oswestry back into the game, with a converted try on the half hour making it 10-7
In the second half, Oswestry took a 14-10 lead – against the run of play – with a second converted try.
But the hosts regrouped and were awarded three penalties, on 60, 68, and 72 minutes. Man of the match Carbutt landed two out of three to give the Port a narrow 16-14 lead with eight minutes remaining.
The same player kicked another late penalty to stretch Port’s lead to five points and ensure they made it over the line without any major scares.
The result leaves Port 10th in the table after five matches. They welcome back centre Peter Doyle for this Saturday’s away match at mid-table Dukinfield.
Ellesmere Port 2nds lost 38-5 at Prenton 3rds, while the 3rds went down 45-32 in an open game at home to Mold.
In Sunday’s junior matches, Port’s under 15s and U16s both lost out in tough fixtures.
The U15 were beaten 62-15 by a strong Hoylake side, and the U16s lost 55-0 against Ormskirk A.
