Top city netball team Plymouth Pilgrims squeaked past title rivals Team Bath Toucans to regain top spot in Regional One.

Whether Pilgrims will hang on to the summit when Wiltshire championship hopefuls Lawn play this weekend and Pilgrims have two days off remains to be seen.

But the one-goal victory in Bath puts Pilgrims in the driving seat they were knocked out of by defeat to Lawn nearly three weeks ago.

 

The city side had to overcome the presence of former England vice-captain Lucia Sdao, who was sent on just before half-time because of an injury.

But despite being behind for much of the game, they snatched a 34-33 victory with virtually the last shot of the match.

Pilgrims coach Sue Gullick made several tactical substitutions as she saw the game slipping away from the title hopefuls.

The Plymouth outfit were 10-8 down at the first quarter and 18-13 at the break.

Gullick threw shooter Lauren Davies into the fray, leaving goal attack Alex Cleeve (pictured right) the freedom to get away from her marker.

Hayley Gullick and captain Claire Harling made way for Davies and Gemma Riley at half-time.

Gullick also paid tribute to centre Becky Lawrence, whose high fitness level was a key to Pilgrims' mid-court dominance.

Gullick admitted afterwards: "It was a very tense game and we were all ecstatic afterwards. I'm not one to show emotion, but at the final whistle, I threw my clipboard and other stuff everywhere.

"The odd thing was that we were 7-3 up, then they changed their tactics and came back at us.

"There was one goal in it until right at the end, then we went one up and held on to it."

Gullick had insisted on taking the squad up as a unit - thanks to Ivybridge-based Dave May Motors, who provided a mini-bus at short notice.

Gullick said: "It worked - they bonded as a team and came away with the result. It could be a very important one for us at the end of the season."

She added: "The most essential element for this game was whether we had the ability to stay absolutely focused for the whole game.

"At times we let that slip, taking breathers as the umpires were making decisions and allowing them time to gain position and control, but we couldn't allow them one second of time and after tightening up on this we gained control.

"We had fresh legs on the bench and used them to good advantage."

Pilgrims now take on Hucclecote in Gloucestershire on February 24.