REDDITCH Arrows have been relegated after struggling Lancashire Wolverines picked up a shock win at the weekend.

The Ash Lane side were gearing up for an all-or-nothing last match to retain their top flight status.

With the Hopwood side recording only a draw all season and Wolverines just one win, over Redditch, the game between the two on Sunday was set to throw Arrows a lifeline.

But the Lancashire side romped to a 52-7 win over Chester Romans at the weekend to leave them out of Redditch's reach and make Sunday's game in Lancashire (2pm start) academic.

Team manager Chris Halford voiced his disappointment but said his side would bounce back next year.

"Chester have been in freefall for weeks so perhaps the result was not so much a surprise even if the score was," he said. "No-one wanted to get relegated but that is the hand we have been dealt so we have to be positive and look to next season.

"We had a number of injuries and lost a lot of experienced players this year.

"We have had to throw in a lot of youngsters who have done very well but struggled and been out of their depth. But from what we have seen of Division Two I am confident we can go all the way and win it next year.

"There is a huge gap between Division Two and Division One and we fall between it at the moment."

The loss of so many regulars meant the Kings Norton tenants endured a tough season with a 15-15 draw, ironically against the Chester side who helped relegate them, the only points on the board.

They can salvage some pride with a weekend win before dropping into what will probably be a new-look Division Two.

League chiefs plan to split Division Two into three conferences from the current two with Redditch in the South West conference.

The changes will be welcomed by a club who were facing the prospect of more away days in Scotland next season.