Altrincham face drop after 18-point penalty

Altrincham have been given an 18-point deduction by the Nationwide Conference and fined £1,000 for fielding an ineligible player. They are to appeal the decision.

James Robinson, 23, made 13 appearances this season after signing from Accrington - where he did not play in the first team - last November. He left in February for Richmond Eagles in Australia, at which point an issue with his international clearance emerged. His new employers discovered Robinson was still registered in Iceland, where he played before Accrington.

The deduction would put the Robins bottom of the Conference and almost certainly lead to relegation.