Dalefield have finished sixth and last in the Capital premier division men's hockey competition for 2012.
They played off for fifth and sixth against Indians at the National Hockey Stadium in Wellington on Saturday and were on the end of an 8-3 beating.
The result was a sharp reversal on what had occurred when the two teams had played at Clareville seven days earlier, Dalefield coming from behind to win that game 4-3.
The likelihood now is that Dalefield will have to protect their premier division spot for next season by beating the winner of the Capital second division title in a promotion-relegation game.
