WORCESTER Reds won 31-29 at Oaksway to secure the highest final position in their history of sixth in England Netball Mizuno Premier One.
The relegation-battling Hartlepool hosts brought three Superleague players into their team from Team Northumbria.
But the result sentenced them to the drop despite direct play and tight defence forcing an 11-2 first-quarter lead.
Reds had been disrupted by the tactics but 17-year-olds Freya Lines and Alice Crump helped their comeback.
Player of the match Dani Perry-Huggins restricted Oaksway at goal keeper alongside the flying interceptions of goal defence Rachel Sweet.
Dogged determination by Reds put them on the front foot and 6ft 3ins Perry-Huggins was moved to goal shooter alongside Cathy Bedney to combat aggressive defending.
Worcester continued to eat away at the deficit and then edged the win with Hayley Rudd returning in the fourth quarter as goal attack and teenager Lizzie McGechie making her debut in defence.
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