In the open's fixture, Sparks had the centre pass to start, with both teams going goal for goal early.

With 8:30 minutes remaining, and Chaise Vassallo rolled on for Taylah Davies before Sparks got a mini-break.

At 9-6 down, Abbey McFadden tried to thread a fine needle to a double-teamed Kristina Brice, but it didn't pay off.

Now down 12-6, McFadden worked hard to make amends on defence, getting a hard-earned turnover.

With 2:30 left, Davies came back on at wing-attack.

Crisp passing on attack saw Sparks scoring easily, to lead 19-10 at the first change.

At the interval, Kayla Johnson came on for Elecia Parrott at wing-defence, but Blaze continued to struggle in attack - seeing Malloon enter the play for McFadden with six minutes to play in the half.

The well-drilled Sparks quickly doubled the Blaze's score (30-15) before a beautiful passage of quick passage saw South Coast trim the margin.

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A tough rebound from Tegan Holland and solid attacking play saw the Blaze grab a couple back in the last few minutes, going into half-time down by 34-23.

The Sparks again got play underway with the centre pass, as Parrott (wing-defence) being the only change.

Mallon showed a great connection with pin-point feeds to Brice, as the Blaze got to within seven goals (38-31) - before Johnson returned to the court with 6:30 minutes remaining.

McFadden replaced Mallon at goal-attack with five minutes to go, as the Sparks extended their margin to 10 goals.

Peti Talanoa replaced Holland at goal-keeper befoe the latter quickly put the GD bib on - seeing a new defensive combination for the final two minutes.

The Blaze managed to hold out the Sparks in the last 15 seconds, as the margin was 46-33 at the final change.

Vassallo started the fourth quarter at centre, replacing Katelyn Begley, and Parrott entering the fray at wing-defence for Johnson.

Shots failing to drop regularly throughout the match cost the Blaze any chance of gaining momentum.

Six minutes in and the Sparks hit a 15-goal margin (52-37) for the second time - the highest in the match so far.

Despite further changes, the Blaze couldn't stop the margin from creeping out, with the final score 61-43 to Sparks - seeing South Coast drop to 3-4 on the season.

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While in the under 23s fixture, which was a replay of last year's grand final, the Blaze got out to a great start, leading 8-1 after just five minutes.

Selene Chadrawy made her first appearance of 2021, and she was wreaking havoc early.

It took the Sparks over half the quarter before they registered their second goal.

The connections for the Blaze clicked early, leading 13-5 with just over four minutes remaining.

After some the Sparks changes, Blaze went to the first quarter break up 15-10.

The Sparks made a push early in the second quarter, to come within two goals (18-16).

The versatile Sharnee Behr came on at goal-attack for Annalise Chadrawy and got an early forced turnover as the ball sailed over the baseline.

Ky-Mani Schwenke gave away a contact penalty under the post, dashing the reward for effort and a four-goal lead.

With six minutes to go, the lead remained close to a two-goal margin, before Aimee Landrigan close the half with the goal-keeper's bibs.

In the third quarter, the reigning champions Sparks took the lead early and held that two-goal buffer for numbers plays.

Behr was a replacement for Jessica Bowden at goal-defence, with the rest of the Blaze line-up remaining the same.

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Blaze training partner Caitlin Fenner made her debut at goal-keeper late in the third quarter, replacing Landrigan - as the Sparks extended their lead to 48-39 by three-quarter-time.

Coach Regan Tweddle made numerous changes for the fourth quarter with Mia Evans entering the game, Emily Dunn moving to a creative feeding role at wing-attack, Bronnee Loy into centre and Abbey Baker on the bench in attack.

In defence, Jessica Bowden came on at wing-defence, Behr remained at goal defence, and Annalise Chadrawy returned to her starting positions at goal-keeper. The Blaze's changes paid off, cutting the deficit to just five goals midway through the final term.

The Blaze continued to work hard for turnovers but a four-goal deficit with two minutes to go seemed too much.

Behr got a vital turnover with 75 seconds left, but the Blaze couldn't maintain possession on their own centre pass, as the Sparks remain undefeated with a 59-56 win against the Blaze - who now sits in fourth with a 4-3 record.

Next up for both South Coast sides are clashes with the Manly Warringah Sapphires - with the open's at 7pm and under 23s at 8.45pm on Wednesday.

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