Penguin secured their position with a 12-7 defeat of the Hawks, featuring four goals each for Claudio Bagnoli and Dragos Ungureanu.
It was less straightforward for Exeter, who trailed Hucknall 8-5 at the end of the second period before clawing their way back to 11-11. Only then did the Devon side take control, late goals by Sam Alberici, Jack Cutting, Cody Plumridge and Kameron Powell clinching a 15-11 win.