Weekend : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

With Charlie Thurley slotting four first quarter goals, Sutton raced into an 8-2 lead. It was 12-5 to the Surrey club at the half-way stage, 15-10 after three periods and 17-14 with two minutes left – when Sutton’s nerves began to show.

Stuart Noyce scored for Newton Abbot, who then staged a grandstand finish but could only score once more seconds from the final whistle through Andy Margetts, ensuring a 17-16 Sutton victory and a play-off against Caledonia at Aldershot on 9 December for a place in Division Two next season.

Ex-GB international Thurley, a real inspiration to Sutton’s youngsters this season, finished with eight goals, as did Andy Barry, of Newton Abbot. Sutton’s goalkeeper Matt Holland made several outstanding saves.

Sutton also defeated Basingstoke 14-4 and – after something of a scare – Bedford 17-15. This was a real marathon, lasting more than 75 minutes. It featured the dismissal for misconduct of Holland along with Bedford’s Matt Oughton after the start of the second quarter, plus no less than eight penalties (six for Sutton, two for Bedford) – and a dramatic finale.

At the end of the first half, Sutton led 6-5, but Bedford enjoyed a good third quarter, building a 10-9 lead thanks to goals by Justin Irvine (3), Robert Hargreaves and Steve Monico. Bedford went 15-13 ahead with just over two minutes left – only for it all to go wrong. They conceded two penalties and were suddenly down to five players in the water. It allowed Sutton to counter with four goals and grab a 17-15 victory. Thurley scored six for Sutton, taking his tally for the season to more than 50.

Earlier, Bedford had been involved in a remarkable, high-scoring clash with Newton Abbot. Irvine slotted ten goals for Bedford and yet still ended on the losing side – 26-20! Almost inevitably, Steve Margetts (8) and Andy Margetts (6) led the Newton Abbot scoring.

Basingstoke condemned Newcastle to relegation when they took a point from Bedford in a 7-7 draw.

The final game of the division saw Newton Abbot beat Basingstoke 15-8. Basingstoke face Invicta Marlins, who finished runners-up in Division Four, in the end-of-season play-offs at Aldershot on 9 December.