St Benedict's are sweating on a five-point penalty, although the Mirehouse club should have done enough to retain their North One West status.

The problem surrounded a Saturday morning postponement of a recent league game when overnight rain had caused major problems to the surface of the pitch.

Coach Ian McQuire said: “The problem was that on the Friday night the ground was perfectly playable, yet following the rain it was a different story the following morning.”

St Benedict’s were criticised for not getting a referee in to inspect the pitch earlier, and they may yet pay the price with the loss of five points.

A 20-13 home win over Wilmslow on Saturday was just the tonic Saints needed in the wake of the five-point deduction threat and tomorrow they play their last away game of the season at Blackburn.

In actual fact, because of potential problems at St Benedict’s pitch, the authorities arranged for the game to be played at the Whitehaven club.

After the trip to Blackburn, Saints have three home games to fit in, all against teams below them in the table – Rochdale, Altrincham Kersal and Leigh.

They are 13 points clear of the last relegation place, which would drop to eight if the penalty is imposed, but a good home win in just one of their three remaining games might well be enough to keep them safe.

It is looking less likely now that Aspatria will get the chance to join them next season as their chase for the play-off place stalled at Bower Park.

They did beat De La Salle 13-10 but still trail the Salford side in the table – a point behind with two games to play – and Aspatria appear to have the tougher fixtures.

Tomorrow’s trip to Bolton is critical and although Carlisle went there and won in a similar high pressure situation two weeks ago, Aspatria’s body language after the game with De La Salle wasn’t encouraging.

They appeared to suggest that they had resigned themselves to being third, although coach Mike Scott will have something to say about that ahead of the trip to Bolton.

A home game with Fleetwood to finish-off is a more likely five-pointer but they need maximum points at Bolton as well, which will be much tougher.

The Black Reds need their Cumbrian neighbours to do them a favour as De La Salle finish at home to Hawcoat Park tomorrow and then away to Upper Eden next week.

Silloth and Workington will be back playing in the Cumbria League next season and the only question is which of them will collect the wooden spoon.

The Zebras currently occupy bottom place, but are just three points behind Silloth.

Workington end their season with a trip to Fleetwood tomorrow and then a home game with Trafford, while Silloth wrap-up the campaign at home to Aldwinians tomorrow and then with a trip to Oldham.

The final games in the Cumbria League are scheduled for tomorrow with winners Keswick at home to Millom and second-placed Whitehaven facing a derby clash at Egremont.

Cockermouth, who have enjoyed their best season for a while, host Windermere. St Benedict’s Ravens travel to Carlisle Crusaders and Moresby visit Furness.