Newcastle Eagles produced a superb team performance to deservedly take a massive road win in Poland on Tuesday night. A fourth successive win in Group A to maintain their 100% European record and put them on a 4 – 0 standing alongside CSO Voluntari and Valmeria Glass Via.

Those three sides leading the way in Group A and the two sharing the Eagles unbeaten record are the next two teams Newcastle will face in this season’s competition. The Romanians of Voluntari next up for Marc Steutel’s team next Tuesday night, 3rd December, in the Vertu Motors Arena.

That promises to be some night as the two highly rated teams slug it out on Tyneside trying to take another significant step in their quest to qualify for the knockout quarter final stage of this prestigious competition. The top four teams in each group qualifying for that said stage.

It could be argued that both may already have done enough to qualify but there’s still probably at least one more win needed for both sides. Plus, there’s the seeding aspect to look at as well. But for now, none of that matters as Newcastle can revel in the glory of winning away in Europe.

Kudos has to go to Head Coach Marc Steutel and his Assistant Gary Stronach. Steutel becoming kind the international globe trotter this past six days as he was on the sidelines for three games in three different countries.

Thursday saw him in London where he guided the GB International squad to victory over Greece. He couldn’t quite repeat that in Thessaloniki on Sunday with the National side but he did get an away win in Europe with Tuesday’s success for his domestic Club side.

Stronach meanwhile has been holding the reins whilst his Head Coach was on international duty and obviously did a great job in keeping the players focused as well as integrating new signing Christian James who made an effective debut in an Eagles vest to help his side to the win.

Further good news for the Eagles coaching staff was the return of veteran Captain Darius Defoe from injury and he as always put in a great shift showing his leadership attributes and worth to Newcastle from the bench.

Josh Ward-Hibbert shrugged off the disappointment of not making the final GB 12 man squad over the weekend to also contribute hugely as did starting point guard Jordan Spencer who was especially influential in Newcastle’s first half performance.

But the undoubted stars of the night for Steutel’s men were guards Mike Okauru who continued his red-hot recent form to net 18 points including a real long range dagger 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter that broke the resistance of the Polish hosts.

MVP though went to Seneca Knight. An excellent double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds for a player that led The ENBL in scoring last season whilst playing for Valmeria Glass. He in particular will be looking forward to returning to his old Club in a fortnight’s time.

Given the respective efforts of both sides thus far in the competition, Warszawa having a 3 – 1 record going into the game it was expected to be a tough close game and so it proved. Newcastle edging a tight first quarter where neither team led by more than 3 points, 17 points to 14.

They carried that momentum well into the second period and Okauru nailed a triple to actually put Newcastle up by 11-points at one stage, 34 to 23. But Warszawa led by ex-Eagle Rickey Mcgill came storming back to rip off a 16 – 3 run to give them a 39 – 37 lead.

A lead they pushed up to nine points at one stage in the third. But Newcastle hung tough and showed excellent defensive intensity to eventually close down Mcgill in the second half and began their comeback in third taking a 60 to 57 lead into the final period.

Further lockdown defence and great game management saw them stretch away by the time the final buzzer sounded to give them yet another memorable European night in a competition that they have thrived on thus far since entering last season.

It sets the Eagles up nicely for a return home this Friday night to domestic SLB Championship when Steutel’s second-placed side face a very strong fourth-placed Cheshire Phoenix side at home in yet another much anticipated contest in what is shaping up to be a very exciting season.

Tickets for Friday nights game are available from the box office.