Drop fears over for Rangers

RUGBY:

SADDLEWORTH Rangers have been handed a second chance in the National Conference League.

The Shaw Hall Bank Road outfit were seemingly doomed for the drop after finishing second-bottom in the first division.

But Saddleworth have won a reprieve because rivals Bradford Dudley Hill and Stanley Rangers have been demoted for breaching league rules,

Saddleworth ended the season ahead of basement side Waterhead on points difference, with third-bottom Stanley a point above them.

Dudley Hill’s fate was sealed when they failed to fulfil a league fixture - meaning automatic demotion.

Stanley were docked points for fielding an ineligle player, leaving Saddleworth in the clear.

Dudley Hill and Stanley have 21 days to appeal.

Peter Townsend, the Saddleworth secretary, said: “We’ve been given a second chance and we’re grateful.

The NCL will have four divisions in 2014; with 14 teams in the Premier Division and 12 in each of the others.