THE South Coast Blaze is still well-positioned for the Netball NSW Premier League finals despite splitting Wednesday's two round six fixtures with Sutherland Stingrays.
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In the seniors, the Blaze started the game with the centre pass but lost it quickly with a breaking call against new Blaze recruit Kayla Johnson.
The team quickly pulled back the Stingrays' centre and drew even at 1-all, before the ball went back and forth for a few minutes prior to another score.
Poor shooting from Stingrays saw Blaze jump out to a 5-2 lead in the first five minutes.
Elecia Parrott replaced Johnson early, as the former Silver Fern and new mum returned to the court from injury.
Parrott came through for a flying intercept and the shooters converted for 7-2.
A three-pass centre pass with a high ball into Kristina Brice gave Blaze 10-3 with seven minutes to play before South Coast extended the lead to 11 (17-6) by quarter-time.
The Stingrays made some changes starting the second quarter, but Te-Arn Bradley's early tip gave South Coast the break.
An incorrect throw in cost an opportunity for the Blaze but they continue to push out to a 14-goal lead halfway through the quarter.
Chaise Vassallo replaced Taylah Davies at wing-attack and the Blaze front line continued to tick along nicely.
With four minutes to go, Davies replaced Katelyn Begley at centre - going head-to-head with fellow Illawarra junior and Stingrays centre Madeline Eaton.
Brice scored off a quick transition to take the lead to 20 goals with less than two minutes remaining, as the Blaze were up 36-16 at half-time.
The second half started with Shelby Mallon taking the goal-attack bib and Begley back on at centre.
The Stingrays came out hungry in the first six minutes, outscoring the Blaze by five goals, to reduce the margin to 40-25.
Coach Marji Parr made a couple of defensive changes, with Johnson back on at wing-defence for another spell and Lauren Russell on at goal-defence to partner Tegan Holland in the circle.
Brice nailed a beautiful long shot from the two-point arc, ad the Blaze led 43-26 with just over six minutes to play in the third quarter.
Begley and Johnson continued to work hard around the circle edge helping to keep the pressure on the Stingrays.
It was Johnson's first game of netball in more than 18 months, having been out with injury before giving birth to her daughter in 2020, and working hard to come back from an injury in pre-season - but it was easy to see once the timing is back, she will be a headache for opposition.
Abbey McFadden returned at goal-attack with five minutes to go, and Parrott at wing-defence for the last minute, as Stingrays mounted a mini-comeback.
Stingrays won the quarter by eight goals, with Blaze leading by 12 goals going into the final quarter 45-33.
South Coast returned to their tried and tested starting line-up for the start of the fourth quarter, as the Stingrays young shooting combination stepped up to help get to within eight goals.
A strong rebound shut-out from Bradley gave Blaze the turnover, but a misplaced pass let South Coast down.
Brice continued to reward her attackers with their aerial passes by pulling in ball after ball and making them count, while Davies cut out passes with ease, leaving her defender trailing.
The Blaze worked hard on defence, racking up the tips, finally get a turnover through a missed shot, as they led by eight with five minutes on the clock.
A take under pressure by Brice pushed the lead back to nine.
A magical piece of play starting with a running Holland tip just came un-done with an uncontrolled pass to Brice but the passage of play showed how much Blaze wanted to win by backing each other up repeatedly.
The Stingrays came within five goals with a minute to play but Davies picked up a loose ball for Blaze to secure the win.
Brice iced a great shooting performance with another nothing-but-net long shot to take the win 60-56 - to move to 3-3 this season.
Unfortunately, in the under 23s, the Blaze couldn't make it a clean sweep against the Stingrays.
The Stingrays stole the lead early, after Blaze started with the centre pass advantage before South Coast secured a turnover on the next centre to get things back on track.
The first four minutes saw both teams make unforced errors, with balls being peppered in all directions.
Sharp hands over the shot and lean from Jessica Bowden gave the missed shot turnover to the Blaze.
Emily Dunn replaced Bronnee Loy at wing-attack halfway through the quarter, with Blaze trying to find the connections on attack.
The Blaze forced an error with five minutes to go, levelling up the low scoring first quarter 7-all.
With just over three minutes to go, Chloe Burden replaced Aimee Landrigan at goal-keeper.
The defensive change helped Bowden pick-off an intercept, as the Blaze kept pace with Stingrays - who led 12-10 at the first break.
The Blaze make a change for the second quarter with Loy replacing Abbey Baker at centre.
Mia Evans' smooth work in the circle kept the Blaze within touching distance (15-12) before numerous quick scores saw the Rays extend their lead to ix
Annalise Chadrawy replaced Bowden at goal-defence for some fresh legs to try and limit the impact of the dominant Stingrays goal-attack.
At 24-15 down and just over six minutes to go, the Blaze made a double change with Baker on at centre and Bowden on at wing-defence.
The Stingrays kept driving hard for a 10-goal lead before the main break before a late surge saw South Coast reduce the margin to 28-20 at half-time.
The Blaze handed Kate Meurant her first game of the season at goal-attack to start the third quarter, as the Stingrays came back from the break ready for more dominance.
Meurant worked hard for her first attempt at goal but wasn't successful.
Five minutes in and down by 13 goals, Sharnee Behr replaced Chadrawy at goal-defence, while Evans came on at goal-shooter for Ky-Mani Schwenke and Loy on at wing-attack for Dunn.
Trialling by 15 with most 50-50 balls falling the Rays way, South Coast brought on Dunn at goal-attack, to allow her to team up with Evans.
A strong front position from Burden got the reward for the Blaze before Bowden was cautioned for persistent infringing.
Just before the final break Landrigan and Behr came on at goal-defence and centre respectively.
In the final term, the Blaze come back out with the same line-up as it finished the third quarter with, but to little advantage.
A handy passage of play was finished off by Evans - bringing Blaze to within 18 (47-29).
Mackenzie Farrow took the goal-shooter bib from Evans (who moved to goal-attack), with Blaze down by 18 goals.
Halfway through the quarter and Baker and Chadrawy returned at centre and goal-keeper respectively.
The Blaze worked it back to a 14-goal deficit, to fall 52-38.
The under 23s Blaze side, coached by Regan Tweddle, is now 4-2 on the season.
Next week, both sides battle the UTS Randwick Sparks, with the under 23s at 7pm and open's at 8.45pm.
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Courtney Ward
Sports Journalist for South Coast Register and Milton-Ulladulla Times, who loves all things sport and travel. All views are my own.
Sports Journalist for South Coast Register and Milton-Ulladulla Times, who loves all things sport and travel. All views are my own.
