After more than 25 years' continuous national league action, Bedford must target the end-of-season play-offs if they are to maintain a BWPL place next season.
It required the last two games of the men's Division 5 programme - intriguingly, at different venues - to determine their future.
At Haberdashers, Bedford knew their only hope of securing a top five place (earning qualification for Championship 4) was to defeat Caledonia Storm and hope that Leeds, simultaneously playing Warwick a Walsall, would lose.
In the event, it was all fairly clear cut. Caledonia were in no mood to be charitable as a win (they eased clear in the final quarter to triumph 16-11) would put them top of the division. Leeds also made absolutely sure of their top five spot, hammering Warwick 23-13.
Bedford, who earlier on the final day had lost 8-7 to Watford Saxons, go to the play-offs with Warwick and Chelmsford. Heading for Championship 4 are Caledonia, Sheffield Dolphins, Watford, Coventry and Leeds.
Meanwhile, the line-up of teams to qualify from men's Division 4 for Championship 3 was also finalised on the last day of competition, Rotherham Metro claiming the fifth place alongside Manchester Hawks, Hucknall, Cheltenham Spartans and Otter at the expense of county rivals York City.
Rotherham, boosted by the experience of four-goal Richard Leighton, struck a defining blow when they beat previously-undefeated Manchester Hawks 15-10 at Walsall. York were able to draw level on points with Rotherham by winning their final game - they beat Tyldesley 12-11 - but Rotherham went up by virtue of their victory over York the previous day. York, Tyldesley and Invicta Marlins move to Championship 4.
Photo (Trevor Hyde): Rotherham's Neil Swainson. Like teammate Richard Leighton, he scored four times in the vital win over Manchester Hawks.
It required the last two games of the men's Division 5 programme - intriguingly, at different venues - to determine their future.
At Haberdashers, Bedford knew their only hope of securing a top five place (earning qualification for Championship 4) was to defeat Caledonia Storm and hope that Leeds, simultaneously playing Warwick a Walsall, would lose.
In the event, it was all fairly clear cut. Caledonia were in no mood to be charitable as a win (they eased clear in the final quarter to triumph 16-11) would put them top of the division. Leeds also made absolutely sure of their top five spot, hammering Warwick 23-13.
Bedford, who earlier on the final day had lost 8-7 to Watford Saxons, go to the play-offs with Warwick and Chelmsford. Heading for Championship 4 are Caledonia, Sheffield Dolphins, Watford, Coventry and Leeds.
Meanwhile, the line-up of teams to qualify from men's Division 4 for Championship 3 was also finalised on the last day of competition, Rotherham Metro claiming the fifth place alongside Manchester Hawks, Hucknall, Cheltenham Spartans and Otter at the expense of county rivals York City.
Rotherham, boosted by the experience of four-goal Richard Leighton, struck a defining blow when they beat previously-undefeated Manchester Hawks 15-10 at Walsall. York were able to draw level on points with Rotherham by winning their final game - they beat Tyldesley 12-11 - but Rotherham went up by virtue of their victory over York the previous day. York, Tyldesley and Invicta Marlins move to Championship 4.
Photo (Trevor Hyde): Rotherham's Neil Swainson. Like teammate Richard Leighton, he scored four times in the vital win over Manchester Hawks.
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