WITH rain washing-out all games on Saturday the emotion was either groan or glee for those clubs involved in the relegation battle as most promotion issues had already been settled, writes John Glaister.

A victory for either Bare or Ibis in their anticipated dogfight may well have sent Silverdale down to Division Two as they were due to face the powerful Milnthorpe side.

With seven games gone Silverdale had 33 points, but they reaped just 22 out of 150 available from the next 15 after the loss of three frontline players. In the past they have also endured the agony and ecstasy of last day rain. In 1994 it did send them to Division Two, but in 1988 last day rain guaranteed them the ultimate prize of the First Division Championship. Ibis cannot feel too aggrieved, however, as last year only one club was demoted from Division One and in normal circumstances they would have been the other team to take the drop.

In Division Two, Burneside A held on by the skin of their teeth at the expense of Coniston, who can blame several rained-off games for their demise. Early in 1998 Coniston sat briefly on top of Division One and must be favourites to leap back up.

One side with cause to feel aggrieved are Shireshead A who would have taken the Division Three title but for the fact that Heysham A could not produce a team on Saturday, thus handing Milnthorpe A a surprise walkover, ten points and the Third Division Title.

Earlier in the season, however, Milnthorpe were docked 10 points for an innocent rule infringement, so perhaps the outcome was justified.

At the other end of the division there is the astonishing sight of once feared Holme, winners of 10 Westmorland championships, dropping in to Division Four. Holme expect an immediate return, however, as a number of players are due to return to the club. Meanwhile Holme will have two teams in Division Four next year unless the league decides to split the lowest tier into two divisions.

At the bottom of the pile Carnforth A's inability to fulfil fixtures means that they prop up the league on minus13 points.