Exeter became the fifth team to qualify for men's Championship 1 - just five seconds from the end of the very last match of the Division 2 programme! And the Devon team weren't even there!
The finale involved Penguin and Welsh Wanderers. As far as Wanderers were concerned, a win would put them level on points with Exeter but with the all-important advantage of a superior goal difference (Exeter and Wanderers drew 14-14 earlier in the campaign).
The Welsh situation looked fairly hopeless late on when Penguin led 12-9. But the margin was reduced to 12-11 thanks to goals by Dan Laxton and Hugh Spencer. Then, with two minutes to go, Joe Jenkinson-Delf equalised. The final stages could hardly have been more tense, reaching a dramatic conclusion as Wanderers were awarded a penalty five seconds from the end. Promotion beckoned . . . until Penguin goalkeeper Wesley Connellan (pictured at Swansea by Trevor Hyde) spoiled the party with a save that kept the final score at 12-12.
Exeter join Penguin, Sutton & Cheam, Polytechnic and Team Northumbria in Championship 1. Exeter's earlier 12-9 victory over Polytechnic, featuring five goals by Nick Hoversten, proved absolutely vital.
Sutton beat Wanderers 10-6 and Team Northumbria 10-8 to finish with maximum points from their weekend's three games. Penguin let a four-goal lead slip in the final quarter against Team Northumbria but held out for a 13-12 win. Lazzaro Vallarino was Penguin's chief marksman with five.
The finale involved Penguin and Welsh Wanderers. As far as Wanderers were concerned, a win would put them level on points with Exeter but with the all-important advantage of a superior goal difference (Exeter and Wanderers drew 14-14 earlier in the campaign).
The Welsh situation looked fairly hopeless late on when Penguin led 12-9. But the margin was reduced to 12-11 thanks to goals by Dan Laxton and Hugh Spencer. Then, with two minutes to go, Joe Jenkinson-Delf equalised. The final stages could hardly have been more tense, reaching a dramatic conclusion as Wanderers were awarded a penalty five seconds from the end. Promotion beckoned . . . until Penguin goalkeeper Wesley Connellan (pictured at Swansea by Trevor Hyde) spoiled the party with a save that kept the final score at 12-12.
Exeter join Penguin, Sutton & Cheam, Polytechnic and Team Northumbria in Championship 1. Exeter's earlier 12-9 victory over Polytechnic, featuring five goals by Nick Hoversten, proved absolutely vital.
Sutton beat Wanderers 10-6 and Team Northumbria 10-8 to finish with maximum points from their weekend's three games. Penguin let a four-goal lead slip in the final quarter against Team Northumbria but held out for a 13-12 win. Lazzaro Vallarino was Penguin's chief marksman with five.
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