HOLMBRIDGE survived to fight another day in the arrowselfdrive Central League Premiership after relegation rivals Nortonthorpe went down in the cruellest of circumstances.

Before the start of the final day’s fixtures, third from bottom Holmbridge were two points ahead of Nortonthorpe who needed a victory to have any chance of avoiding the drop.

And when the Clayton West based club rolled Flockton over for 52 there was every chance of them picking up a six-point maximum.

Meanwhile, over at Holmbridge, Abbott, Holroyd and Moorhouse all scored half-centuries in their 241-9 tally, but they were then unable to prevent Birkby Rose Hill knocking them off with eight down, leaving the Bridge with a solitary point.

And that was ultimately to prove their salvation, as luckless Nortonthorpe were denied what would surely have been comfortable victory when the weather forced their reply to be put on hold, and then completely abandoned.

Woodfield Park and Denby will be replacing Nortonthorpe and Flockton next season in the top flight.

One of the day’s outstanding performances came from Rohan Randhawa who notched his maiden century for Wesleyans Second team.