Top city netball team Plymouth Pilgrims have been handed a massive boost in their bid to get into the national leagues.

Pilgrims went back to the top of Regional One with a gritty 43-37 win over Somerset club, Galmington, at Marjons.

Earlier, local rivals St Austell Marjons had done them a huge favour by drawing 37-37 with championship contenders Lawn.

 

Pilgrims, on paper, have an easier run-in, facing lowly St Austell in Truro on April 13 and strugglers Jersey in Bournemouth on April 20.

Lawn, meanwhile, take on the always-difficult Team Bath Toucans at home and visit Galmington for their last match on April 20.

Pilgrims coach Sue Gullick, however, warned against complacency.

She said: "It's difficult to know what on earth is going on this season, because some of the results have been really strange.

"St Austell have done us a good turn by drawing with Lawn, but I doubt they will be in the mood to do us any more.

"I don't think anyone can predict what will happen, but I'm surprised by the Lawn result and my team are absolutely ecstatic."

Gullick had demanded that her team win the mid-court battle against Galmington and the successful tactic provided the platform on which the game was won.

Pilgrims nicked the first quarter 9-8, but when they zoned in on the Galmington defence, Hayley Gullick was deadly, helping stretch their lead to 21-15.

Pilgrims lost the third, but had scored enough to stay in the lead, which they kept until the end of the match.

Gullick said the victory - a vital result with the championship on the line - had been a team effort.

She said: "My gameplan had been to win the mid-court - Galmington have a very good goal-shooter - and the team did everything to make that work.

"I'm not going to pick out any individuals, because this win was a team effort and everybody played their part.

"We have just two games left and everybody needs to be focused."

Only one team from Regional One will be automatically guaranteed a place in the play-offs for the nationals.

Pilgrims were originally a national league side, but were 'demoted' nearly two seasons ago as the structure of English netball received a shake up.