GALMINGTON returned to Regional League, division one action after a six week break and faced a tough match against second-placed Hucclecote Stars from Gloucester, losing narrowly 49-45.

Both attacks were on form from the start and after seven minutes the score stood at 8-8.

However, neither side then scored for a while as the defences took their turn to dominate before Hucclecote began to take control to lead 15-12 at the first interval.

There was nothing to choose between the sides in the second quarter as they traded goals throughout the period and half time arrived with Hucclecote still leading by three goals at 27-24.

Little changed in the first half of the third quarter of well-contested competitive enc-ounter until a five-goal burst by Hucclecote saw them stretch their lead to eight goals and left Galmington with plenty to do as they trailed 40-32 going into the last period.

However, with goalkeeper Helen Jones, who was outstanding throughout, dominant in defence and Sam Newton, who had switched from wing attack to goal attack for the second half, shooting superbly, Galming-ton reduced the deficit to just three goals again halfway through the quarter.

With four minutes remaining and the gap down to two goals after intense Galmington pressure, Hucclecote took a tactical time-out making positional chan-ges and this paid off as they immediately pulled away to lead by seven goals.

Galmington came back strongly again getting to within four goals to pick up an additional bonus point, which was the very least they deserved.