Ellesmere Port captain Jim Shinton thinks the 36-12 win over a competitive Linley outfit could prove vital in the race for the South Lancs & Cheshire Division Three title.
With two games to go, the Oilers are second in the table, two points behind leaders Ramsay but with a game in hand.
“It was a huge win for the club and although it wasn’t our best display, it certainly was one of the most important in recent history,” said Shinton, who was among the scorers at the weekend.
Port, who are unbeaten in four months, took a 12th minute lead against Linley when Robert Finlay put Anthony Jones over for the first try of the game.
Jones doubled his account in the 23rd minute, jumping above the visiting fullback and pulling down Chris Carbutt’s high kick for his 18th try of the season.
Oilers hooker Joe White increased the lead before half-time, driving over from close range for a 19-0 scoreline.
Port moved further clear when skipper Shinton galloped across the whitewash, although the visitors hit back with a converted score to trail 24-7.
White powered over for his second of the game to extend the lead once more, but again Linley responded and an uncoverted score brought them to 31-12.
Port had the last word when Carbutt and Joel Gibbs combined for Finlay to go underneath the posts as the game finished 36-12.
Oilers director of rugby Steve Dorrington, whose side have Easter off, played down suggestions his team were closing in on the title.
He said: “I’m still looking at one game at a time. We have a break at Easter and the lads have been given a week off from training.
“We will be back on the training pitch next week preparing for a difficult away game at Liverpool University on April 11.”
