So close has been the struggle for top five places in men's Division 2 that Exeter, who began the day at Plymouth in second place, still needed points to be sure of avoiding the drop.
They made it. But only after an outstanding match with Welsh Wanderers, who will slip down to Championship 2 next season following a 13-12 defeat. The Welsh, playing without key player Dan Laxton, put up a terrific fight, recovering from 6-3 down and then 10-7 down to pull up to 12-12 in the dramatic final period as Joe Jenkins-Delf fired in his seventh goal.
A draw might have been enough to keep both sides up. But with 2.14 to go, Nicholas Hoversten scored the winner. Looking back, the Devon club will be grateful to goalkeeper Toby Hogg for two outstanding, point blank saves with his team 11-9 up and Wanderers pressing.
Earlier, City of Bristol secured their top flight slot, beating bottom side Croydon 17-11. Meanwhile, at Haberdashers, Penguin claimed a crucial point thanks to an 8-8 draw with Watford. Hat-tricks by Andras Kovacs and Claudio Bagnoli earned Penguin an 8-6 lead midway through the final period. But a Sam Carling goal and then - with 56 seconds remaining - a man-up conversion from Ciaran Walshe squared the match.
Team Northumbria completed their Division 2 programme unbeaten, rounding off with a 12-5 defeat of Sutton & Cheam.
Where did this leave the promotion situation? Northumbria, Exeter, Bristol and Watford all head for Championship 1. The fifth spot will go to either Penguin or Sutton & Cheam - who meet later today in the final game of the whole Division 2 programme!
Photo (by Jonathan Gray): Penguin's Riccardo Spadafora fends off defender Matt Calvert, of Team Northumbria, and gets in a shot. Northumbria won 9-7.
They made it. But only after an outstanding match with Welsh Wanderers, who will slip down to Championship 2 next season following a 13-12 defeat. The Welsh, playing without key player Dan Laxton, put up a terrific fight, recovering from 6-3 down and then 10-7 down to pull up to 12-12 in the dramatic final period as Joe Jenkins-Delf fired in his seventh goal.
A draw might have been enough to keep both sides up. But with 2.14 to go, Nicholas Hoversten scored the winner. Looking back, the Devon club will be grateful to goalkeeper Toby Hogg for two outstanding, point blank saves with his team 11-9 up and Wanderers pressing.
Earlier, City of Bristol secured their top flight slot, beating bottom side Croydon 17-11. Meanwhile, at Haberdashers, Penguin claimed a crucial point thanks to an 8-8 draw with Watford. Hat-tricks by Andras Kovacs and Claudio Bagnoli earned Penguin an 8-6 lead midway through the final period. But a Sam Carling goal and then - with 56 seconds remaining - a man-up conversion from Ciaran Walshe squared the match.
Team Northumbria completed their Division 2 programme unbeaten, rounding off with a 12-5 defeat of Sutton & Cheam.
Where did this leave the promotion situation? Northumbria, Exeter, Bristol and Watford all head for Championship 1. The fifth spot will go to either Penguin or Sutton & Cheam - who meet later today in the final game of the whole Division 2 programme!
Photo (by Jonathan Gray): Penguin's Riccardo Spadafora fends off defender Matt Calvert, of Team Northumbria, and gets in a shot. Northumbria won 9-7.
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