HOPES Netherfield may have had of turning around a seven-point deficit with leaders Fleetwood on the final day of the Northern Premier League season were sunk by an afternoon of autumnal rain.

Although Netherfield and Fleetwood both got a start in their respective matches, the unfavourable weather closed in and all of the top-flight matches were abandoned.

Netherfield had Morecambe at 64-5 when play stopped, while Fleetwood had completed their innings at 187-6 at Darwen who were 35-1 in reply after nine overs when the umpires called a halt.It meant that the status quo was preserved with Netherfield finishing runners-up, well clear of third-placed Darwen.