BAILDON are to stay in Yorkshire Division Three, despite finishing second from bottom.

The Jenny Laners, who had a strong second half of the season, finished on 40 points, with only Stocksbridge (33 below them).

However, Leeds Medics & Dentists, who had 51 points, have been deducted 30 points and therefore finish bottom, going down to Yorkshire Division Four alongside Stocksbridge.

It is believed that Medics were docked five points for an illegal registration and 25 points for fielding an ineligible player.

"It is unfortunate what has happened to Leeds Medics & Dentists with their 30-point deduction," said Baildon's rugby chairman Phil Wilson, "but we will continue to be a community rugby club, whether we play in Yorkshire One, Two, Three or Four.

"We hoped to have a successful season whatever division we were playing in.

"We don't buy players in and we don't pay players, but we showed with our displays in the second half of the season that we can compete in the top half of Yorkshire Division Three."

Baildon only won two out of their first 13 matches up to and including January 6 but won six of their last 13 to almost save themselves before the points deductions came into force. Skipton ended up seven points ahead in third from bottom.

A worry might be that players move on in the vacuum between relegation and salvation but that doesn't seem to have happened at Jenny Lane.

Wilson revealed: "We have only lost Matty Dixon to the Army and we will continue to field two teams."

Richmondshire have been deducted a whopping 52 points for their misdemeanours to be relegated from Durham & Northumberland Division Two.

They finished third from bottom on 44 points but the deductions took them to minus eight, which put them behind Winlaton Vulcans and Newton Aycliffe.

Meanwhile, Nestle Rowntree are back in league rugby.

The York-based team will be in Yorkshire Division Four South East in 2018-19.