Buckingham women’s six-year stay in the Premier Division came to an end at the weekend following a 2-1 defeat at Loughborough Students.
The Stowe School-based club, who were promoted in 2017, have endured a tough campaign with 14 defeats from 17 this season in the Vitality Women’s Premier Division and are now seven points from safety with two matches remaining.
At the bottom, it looks like Reading and Holcombe will slug it out for the final relegation place alongside Buckingham, the two sides playing out a 1-1 draw.
In the League Finals pool stages, being played over three weekends before the Final four teams teams are known, Clifton Robinsons scored a fine 2-1 win away win at Hampstead & Westminster, with Wimbledon also winning 2-0 against Uni of Nottingham.
Meanwhile, East Grinstead beat Beeston 3-2 in a crucial home win for the West Sussex side, while Surbiton continued their superb form courtesy of a 4-0 victory over Uni of Birmingham.
Meanwhile, in the men’s top flight, East Grinstead secured their Premier Division status after a convincing 5-0 win over already relegated Brooklands MU.
It means university sides Exeter and Nottingham will battle for survival.
At the top, Old Georgians and Holcombe stole a march after opening Phase 3 wins, while Wimbledon and Surbiton, who edged past Oxted 3-2, went top of their respective pools.