Yes you can use troops on land to block ports. Just put them onto the port on the land. For phalava I have little experience. But for casse's chariots I have some.

For me I usally put the chariots in front line. I charge in head front and before they stops (and get massakerd) I tell them to push foward behind and through the line to behind. And quickly move in my infrantry into the disrupted line. The chariots then fire their javelins and when the enemy is near to rout. I charge in from the back and use them to chase routers.

While this is quite a good tactic when it works. It can easily backfire if the enemy has a deep line. Also it is quite risky to put your general in the front line. But the heck. War is dangerous!