STUMBLING Redditch Arrows sank to a shock home defeat to Northern Conference Division One whipping boys Lancashire Wolverines at the weekend to leave them facing relegation.

The Kings Norton RFC tenants are teetering on the brink of relegation from Britain's top flight after a disastrous 14-0 loss.

A new kit, funded by an Awards for All grant, failed to inspire the Ash Lane tenants as their winless season continued.

Lancashire started the day propping up the Conference with a zero percentage after five league defeats and Arrows, who boasted a 0.071 figure after a draw against Chester Romans, knew their best hope of survival was to avoid coming off worst in home and away meetings with the fellow strugglers.

But Sunday's result changed the table with Redditch's percentage lengthening as Lancashire climbed to around 0.165 and swapped places with their hosts.

The departure of several veterans in the close season has forced the Arrows to field an understrength side packed with rookies for much of the season.

Team manager Chris Halford knows his side have to return the favour in Lancashire on the last day of the season on July 28 and hope Wolverines fail to pick up any results elsewhere.

Arrows entertain Gateshead Senators in the final game of the season on Sunday (2pm start) and any kind of result could lift them out of the drop zone.

But with the third from bottom side inflicting a 40-0 defeat on the Arrows in the reverse fixture, the weekend game is likely to offer sparse pickings.