SOLENT Stars Women maintained their recent run of form with a close-fought 73-62 victory over Manchester Mystics at Hamble Community Sports College.

The Mystics stormed into an early 8-0 lead before Lizzy Cloke finally got Solent off the mark, but they were 17-7 adrift by the time coach Michael Ball called his first time-out.

That brought an immediate improvement and, by the end of the first quarter, Stars had slashed the deficit to 19-17 with Katarina Syngellakis starting to rediscover her offensive potential.

The second quarter was probably Solent's most mature and efficient ten minutes of the season to date.

While restricting Manchester to just ten points at one end, they began to execute at the other and, with Maria Tobar back in action for the first time in three weeks, opened a healthy 39-29 half-time advantage.

Mystics hit back at the start of the third quarter, trimming the lead to four points but Stars didn't panic and Lynn Powell's three-pointer and Sarah Cooper's two sweet jump shots helped stretch the lead to 11.

Manchester again began the fourth quarter strongly but, with key player Smith benched on four fouls, Solent were able to score inside.

Louise Gamman played her part in victory, nailing seven from seven from the floor. "Our recent results are showing we're maturing in our decision-making," said coach Ball.

"I am really looking forward to this weekend's encounter with Sheffield to see how far we have come."

SOLENT SCORERS: Tarnai 18, Cooper 14, Gamman 14, Syngellakis 9, Cloke 8, Tobar 5, Powell 3, Brownsell 2.

SOUTHAMPTON Trailblazers under-16s did coach Mark Jackson proud by continuing their winning ways at Waltham Forest Spitfires in the National South Conference.

Playing in a division with strong London teams has meant there have been few easy games, and this one was as tight and competitive as any.

Neither side led by more than three points until Southampton finally pulled clear in the last three minutes to clinch it 63-58.

Highlight of the game was an 'alley-oop' pass from Nathan Clifford and the resulting dunk from Liam Kelly, which brought the crowd to their feet.

SOUTHAMPTON SCORERS: Louis Allen 22, Liam Kelly 20, Nathan Clifford 10, Ben Radford 6, James Tavender 5.

In the Solent Area League under-14 section, Southampton proved way too strong for Dorset Storm A in a runaway 86-38 win at Romsey School.

With Isaac Paddington rebounding well at both ends and Southampton's pressure defence unsettling the visitors, Blazers had opened up an unassailable 51-15 lead by half-time, allowing coach Mike Kelly to ring the changes in the second half.

SOUTHAMPTON SCORERS: Aidan Kelly 25, Jack Kendall 15, Scott Bessey 13, Isaac Paddington 12, James Blandford 12, Jack Cox 3, Mitchell Greenham 2, Jon Pickering 2, George Radford 2.

THERE was another healthy score for Solent's mainly under-15 side, who blew away Dorset Storm A 90-55 in the Solent Area under-16 section.

Unlike the under-14s, they began slowly and led only 16-12 at the end of the first quarter. But they cranked up the pressure in the second quarter and never looked back.

Luke Jones rebounded well, while guards Chris Lush, James Darios and Mike Hurst proved too skilful for their opposite numbers.

Hurst's nine-point haul in his first appearance back from long-term injury was particularly encouraging.

SOUTHAMPTON SCORERS: Nick Jeneway 22, Luke Jones 17, James Bailey 13, Eliot Hood 11, James Darios 11, Mike Hurst 9, Chris Lush 4, Mike Mears 2, Tom Bunday 1.