Marple 58 Ellesmere Port 13

THE South Lancs/Cheshire Division Two form book was ripped up as a totally out-of-sorts Port suffered their heaviest loss of the season.

The under-strength Oilers made the trip to previously winless Marple in high spirits after beating Oldershaw seven days earlier.

But their confidence proved misplaced as they were sent crashing to a devastating defeat which meant they replaced their opponents at the foot of the table.

In bright and hot conditions woeful defence allowed Marple to take an early lead. That at least served to wake the visitors up and Chris Carbutt reduced the deficit with a penalty.

But from then on the wheels well and truly came off the Port waggon as the hosts used well-drilled but not exceptional backs moves to race 36-8 in front at the break.

Flatfooted and disorientated in defence, Steve Dorrington’s men did manage to exert a period of pressure in the Marple 22 which resulted in an unconverted try from Niall Grant.

But any thoughts of a dramatic comeback were dashed when the Stockport outfit continued to pile on the points once the second half got under way.

The Oilers did manage to get on the scoresheet again, this time through Ricky Evans when Marple had two players in the sinbin, but by then it was too little too late.

Port, for whom man-of-the-match Rob Finlay was one of the few players not to let himself down, host Oswestry on Saturday (3pm).

Lee Percival scored a hat-trick of tries as a combined Ellesmere Port 2nds and 3rds side won 29-5 at Birkenhead Park Lions on Saturday before the club’s under 13s lost a close game at Bowdon U13s 26-25 on Sunday.