A TENSE weekend off the field for Basingstoke rugby club officials, players and fans, ended in triumph with the Down Grange club escaping relegation.

They finished third from bottom but were spared the drop from national division three south because only one southern team - Launceston - came down from division two while Lydney won 21-7 in the promotion play-off match against the second-placed team in division three north, New Brighton.

Lydney will join Rosslyn Park in division two next season when the new division three south teams are Launceston, Southend, Haywards Heath and Dings Crusaders.

While Basingstoke just escaped relegation, their two closest rivals - Havant and Camberley - are both relegated.

The survival brought relief to Basingstoke officials and players.

Director of rugby Ian Calder said: "We've been hanging in there and hanging in there not knowing what was going to happen.

"This is a much more pleasing situation."

Although keeping national league rugby at Down Grange will make it easier to attract new players, Calder said the situation made it easier for the six players who will not return next season - Chris Norton, Neal Taylor, Tom Dean, Nigel Hooker, Phil Della-Savina and Marcus Reeve.

"They all wanted to keep us in national league. Now the players have achieved their goal, it's easier for them to go."

It will be hard to replace six talented and experienced players but maintaining national league status, while two neighbours haven't, will help Basingstoke attract fresh talent.

Club chairman Steve Tristram said: "I'm delighted for the players because they've played some good rugby through the season.

"It will allow us to build on this year and it's good to continue the success of other teams in the club.

"Staying up also complements the progress we're making with the development of Down Grange."

Chairman of playing John Byett kept track of the play-off match at Lydney during the afternoon. He said: "It's good that Lydney did the business. I'm greatly relieved.

"Now we've got to make sure we're not in the same position next year."

First team captain Richard Baker, who only weeks ago lifted 'Stoke's fourth successive Hampshire Cup, said: "I'm very happy and very relieved."

He was out cycle training for a forthcoming triathlon on Saturday afternoon but came home to nine messages relating to staying up.

"I had a couple of beers to celebrate afterwards," he said. "It's credit we deserved for trying to play expansive rugby."

The annual players' dinner on Friday night came 24 hours too soon to celebrate survival but awards for four players brought them individual joy.

Scrum-half Dean, who is moving on, was player-of-the-year while hooker Matt Evans, who played in every match, picked up the man-of-steel award. The best trainer was Carl White and the most improved player was Ross Stirling.