South Lancs/Cheshire League Division Two
Ellesmere Port 19,
Oswestry Eagles 14
OSWESTRY slipped to their second successive league defeat at Ellesmere Port as the Oilers proved to be slippery customers after taking the lead at Dunkirk Lane.
Despite scoring two tries through Olly Wilford and Nick Carlton, the Eagles missed the kicking attributes of the injured Andy Howell, failing to register what would have been a fourth win in five outings and now reside in fifth place in the table after succumbing to the league's bottom side.
Oswestry conceded an early penalty which Chris Carbutt struck between the posts, and they thought they had scored the game's first try when Adam Whatling dived over the line on nine minutes only to be called back by the referee for a forward pass.
They didn't have long to wait however with full-back Anthony Jones crossing over to touch down with Carbutt making it two from two as he converted.
The Eagles found a way back into the game after Port were forced into making two early substitutions as Nick Carlton stole through the gap with replacement kicker, Gareth Hughes, slotting over the extra two points.
With the scores finely poised at 10-7 to Ellesmere Port at the interval, it was Oswestry who first drew blood when the match resumed after holding off some concerted pressure from the Oilers as they pushed the home side into touch.
Hughes failed with a penalty as Oswestry strode up the other end of the pitch but they took the lead through an Olly Wilford try with Hughes kicking the conversion to put the Eagles four points up.
But despite being a man down for remonstrating at the decision, Port hit back with two Carbutt penalties to edge themselves back in front before Oswestry indiscipline proved their undoing once more with Carbutt landing yet another penalty to stretch the advantage to five points as the referee called time.
Eagles coach Don Howell said: "It was a very scrappy game but we didn't really compete which was very disappointing after the start we made to the season.
"We did have a few players missing and we are still rebuilding but you play with what you have and unfortunately we came up well short.
"I am hoping to see us put in an improved performance against Crewe and Nantwich in our next game because they are one of the better sides in this division and we will need to be at our best," he added.
The match with Crewe and Nantwich kicks off at Park Hall at 3pm on Saturday whilst the Eagles second string travel to play Northwich Fourths following their 47-12 win over Didsbury Thirds.