AFTER narrowly losing to Thames Valley Harriers in the opening match four weeks earlier, Birchfield turned the tables. But it was close, as the Stags won by half a point and the two league frontrunners will fight things out in the final match next month.
There was controversy after around a dozen athletes were deemed ineligible to compete in the opening match and their clubs, Enfield & Haringey and Shaftesbury Barnet, forfeited points and were demoted to the rear of the pack, although there could yet be appeals.
On the opening match, league scrutiniser Jan Lishman said: “There were a number of ineligible athletes taking part which has taken some time to unravel, including checks with England Athletics.”