It was believed that Perkins would be forced to withdraw from the top flight because of ground problems, leaving an extra promotion place for Division Two sides, but the works side have yet to formally resign from the league.

Perkins are understood to be making a last-ditch attempt to find another base.

Bourne batted carefully against Barnack to secure enough bonus points to make their defeat irrelevant in terms of final league position.

Opener Ben Stroud scored 70 in 45 overs as Bourne totalled 160-4, but Asim Butt's 61 ensured Barnack won the match.

The winners were also left to curse administration errors which cost them 10 points in penalties and a controversially cancelled match at rock-bottom Nassington.

Champions Market Deeping ended Stamford's faint hopes of third place with a 54-run win inspired by captain Tom Andrews (56 and 3-23).

Castor's relegation was confirmed despite a comfortable win over Newborough which was set up by another fine innings by Ashley Rodgers (81).

Andy Bennett's five wicket haul and a second-wicket partnership of 109 between Pete Bradshaw (71) and Neil Buckingham (52no) ensured Bretton won their final match of the Division Three campaign at Loddington.

Sean McMullan followed an innings of 101, which included five sixes, with three wickets as Netts saw off Oakham seconds in Division Six, while Ufford Park seconds ruined Eaton Socon seconds' chances of winning Division Seven by winning for a fourth straight match.

Fourteen year-old Daniel Robinson claimed his maiden ton for Nassington thirds in a Hunts Division Three massacre of Upwood seconds.

Robinson batted throughout the Nassington innings for 105 and was backed by up by veteran Bill Taylor whose innings of 68 took his league average up to 142.


RUTLAND LEAGUE

Division Two

BOURNE lost to BARNACK by 5 wkts

Bourne 160-4 (B. Stroud 70no).
Barnack 165-5 (A. Butt 61, A. Scotcher 33no).

CASTOR beat NEWBOROUGH by 87 runs

Castor 168-6 (A. Rodgers 81, D. Cotton 35).
Newborough 81 (S. McCracken 28, M. Shamin 5-15).

MARKET DEEPING beat STAMFORD by 54 runs

Market Deeping 187 (T. Andrews 56, L. Dave 4-22, C. Birch 3-29).
Stamford 133 (J. Prentice 29, G. Peck 23, T. Andrews 3-23).

Division Three

MEDBOURNE beat UFFORD PARK by 8 wkts

Ufford Park 99 (P. Bentley 24, S. Freear 4-16, T. Smith 3-40).
Medbourne 101-2 (T. Smith 50, P. Bentley 2-17).

LODDINGTON lost to BRETTON by 8 wkts

Loddington 141-9 (A. Bennett 5-26).
Bretton 142-2 (P. Bradshaw 71, N. Buckingham 52no).

Division Five

Cancelled: Oundle 2nds v Weekley & Warkton (Weekley conceded).

Division Six

NASSINGTON 2nds beat BARNACK 2nds by 94 runs

Nassington 284-4
Barnack 190-7.

OAKHAM 2nds lost to NETTS by 70 runs

Netts 237-4 (S. McMullan 101, D. Goodson 42no, T. Walker 29, A. McIntyre 25).
Oakham 157 (S. McMullan 3-36).