On what must constitute the lowest day in their history, Wanderers were yesterday condemned to relegation from the AIL second division when the IRFU's AIB working party decided to award the club's cancelled game with Buccaneers to the Connacht side.

A brief statement from the IRFU yesterday said: "The convenor of the AIB Working Party, Mr Stan Waldron, last evening, April 23rd, 1998, held a hearing in relation to the calling off of the scheduled AIB League Division Two game between Wanderers and Buccaneers, fixed for Merrion Road on Saturday, April 11th, 1998.

"The convenor's decision was to award the game and match points to Buccanneers, with no scores to be awarded to either side. The Division Two/Three play-off will now take place between Malone and Ballynahinch on dates to be confirmed."

A spokesperson for Wanderers could not reveal what the club's response to this decision would be. "Our executive will be meeting over the weekend and we will make a decision after that."

Meanwhile, Dungannon entertain Buccaneers today in the second leg of their play-off for a place in next season's AIL Division One. Dungannon already have one foot above the threshold after last weekend's 17-11 away win in the first leg, but their recently returned coach Willie Anderson is maintaining his wary approach. "It's going to be a tough game. It's still only half-time and we're only 1-0 ahead," he said. Tomorrow afternoon sees the final of the Provincial Towns' Cup, when Naas play Kilkenny in Enniscorthy.

Meanwhile in England, London Irish will look to give their rugby director Dick Best victory against his former club, Harlequins, today, but must produce a much-improved performance from the midweek effort at Northampton, when they were brushed aside 33-18.

International centre Mark McCall returns after being concussed during Ireland's Twickenham defeat by England three weeks ago.