NEW Brighton have been relegated from North One West League following a meeting of the RFU Northern Competitions Committee.

The Blues were penalised five points over a registration issue concerning Tongan player Paea Liku and it meant they dropped to the dreaded third bottom place in the division, changing places with Leigh who have been reprieved.

New Brighton will now feature in South Lancashire/Cheshire One League next season.

An appeal was considered by the Hartsfield side but has now been withdrawn.

The club's general manager, Guy Hughes, said: "We held our hands up and were at the mercy of the committee. Unfortunately there was none.

"We have got to accept the situation. It is disappointing.

"But we have plenty of young players coming through and they could benefit by playing in a lower league status".

Liku was registered until the end of March when his entry visa also ran out.

He was allowed to stay in the country after marrying an English lady but regrettably the RFU were not informed of the situation.

They are very strict on such matters and the points penalty was inevitable.

In normal circumstances it would have had little effect but sadly New Brighton did not win enough games in the season and were left in a vulnerable place in the division.

Meanwhile Cheshire opened their County Championship programme with an excellent 18-10 win over Yorkshire at Sheffield.

Ed Stobart and James Anthony scored tries and Tom Foden a conversion plus two penalties in a defence dominated affair. Yorkshire registered with a converted try and a penalty.

Hoylake finished their South Lancashire/Cheshire One programme in good style with a 25-14 success away to Bowdon.

Cheshire have their second game this Saturday against Warwickshire at Coventry.