Ellesmere Port 58 Knutsford 0

THE Oilers did their points difference column the power of good with a resounding win on Saturday.

The home triumph over a depleted Knutsford line-up followed on from the previous week’s 66-0 success over Helsby – meaning Ellesmere Port have scored a total of 124 unanswered points in their last two games.

The Oilers, who are fourth in the South Lancs/Cheshire Division Three table, put in plenty of hard work to clear their home pitch at Whitby Sports and Social Club of standing water on the morning of the game.

Knutsford were unable to field a full 15 but the match still went ahead, in wet and muddy conditions.

The hosts took 20 minutes to settle but soon started to build a lead with tries from full-back Anthony Jones, stand-in scrum-half Richard McDonagh and winger Joe Joinson.

The bonus point for four tries was secured just after the half hour, and with two from four conversions from the boot of fly-half Chris Carbutt, Port were leading 24-0. Two more scores came in the run-in to half time. Young back row Sam Olyott and Joinson crossed the whitewash, while replacement fly-half Paul Millington kicked a conversion to make it 36-0.

The second half followed a similar pattern.

The home team added to their tally with unconverted tries from Millington, Craig Jones and prop James Callaghan (2).

The last of the tries was converted by Carbutt, having returned to the fly-half position as a rolling sub for Millington.

It was 58-0 with 15 minutes to play. At this point, the Knutsford team decided they had taken enough of a beating. With some of their players carrying injuries, the referee agreed to end the game early.

Ellesmere Port travel to Linley – who are one place above basement side Knutsford in the table – this Saturday.

Port 2nds won 13-3 at Liverpool Collegiate on Saturday.