Panthers roar back to clinch crucial win

With their hopes of challenging for the Division Three South title already hanging by a thread after their defeat to Wokingham, it looked even worse for Panthers at half-time in Sussex as they trailed 20-17.

However, a couple of tactical substitutions changed the game and it was Panthers who won it 44-40.

Sunday wasn't all good for Panthers, though, as the latest Swan Centre win means that Bourgaize and her team are relying on the league leaders to slip up.

Swan hammered Dreams Two 42-29 to extend their already healthy advantage in the goal average column that is decisive in the event of level points.

The reality now is that if both sides win their remaining two games, Swan will be champions and, as such, the next round of games the weekend after next look pivotal.

Swan travel to Wokingham, who defeated Panthers last week, while Panthers themselves host third-placed Brize Jets, who can also still win the league.

With the promotion criteria changing year-by-year, dependent on a number of factors, there is still a slim chance that finishing as runners-up could still be rewarded with automatic promotion.

More likely is that second and third spot will mean places in May's play-offs, where Panthers came unstuck a year ago, against two sides from Division Two.

But the CD Phoenix result has guaranteed third place at worst for Panthers.

• More in Tuesday’s Guernsey Press.