Beaten but not bowed in their last two games is the overall feeling for Newcastle Eagles as they go into Saturday’s one-off quarter-final SLB playoff tie against Oaklands Wolves. Two weeks ago, Head Coach Chloe Gaynor’s side travelled to Oaklands and lost 81-76 in a close affair.

Had the Eagles won that game and for long periods they looked like they might well have been hosting Oaklands on Saturday rather than having the long travel. But in yet another game where her roster was hampered and short-handed Gaynor saw her side just lose out.

The Eagles have now faced Oaklands three times this season and lost all three. That is the measure of the task ahead and how difficult it will be. But as ever Gaynor remains confident as she spoke after the loss last weekend at home to Caledonia.

“The Caledonia game was good for us in the sense that we had the opportunity to build momentum and work on things we identified last time out against Oaklands that we needed to learn from. I saw positives signs in that. It gives us confidence heading into Saturday’s game.”

“There are things out there that we can do well and things that we slipped up on, but we got a chance to work on them in the Caledonia game. Hopefully, we can translate what we learned from those last two games and what we’ve done in practice this week into a positive outcome.”

In many ways it has been a remarkable season for Gaynor and her players. They had virtually no pre-season preparation and haven’t played a single game all campaign with a full roster. It seems at times they have welcomed someone back from injury only to lose someone else.

In the end an eleven-win seven loss record was a good one given all the adversity they faced and how often things seemed to conspire against them. Not that Gaynor ever used that as an excuse. Her mantra and the one that repeatedly her team followed was a ‘next player up’ one.

Now they go to Oaklands hoping to show that fighting commitment, togetherness, will to win and sheer determination that has made them such a good side to watch this season. One more huge collective effort is certainly not beyond the Eagles once again and Coach Gaynor tells us the team are feeling confident.

“Mood within the group is positive. I think having seen Oaklands not too long ago it’s been nice to be able to review what went well and what needed improving from the last game.

“We’ve been able to have honest conversations and open discussions and we know what we need to do to get the win.

“We’ve seen Oaklands more than any other team this season and it will be our third trip down there in 2026. Having reviewed game footage there’s a few tweaks we need to make with regards to how we approach our defence.

“We need to make sure we keep them to one and done and stay aggressive with our coverages. Offensively we need to play 40 minutes of our basketball without allowing their defence to dictate.”

The game at St. Albans College home of Oaklands Wolves tips off at 5:00pm. Gaynor whilst playing her cards close to her chest is hopeful that Newcastle may have a couple of surprises for the hometown Wolves. She and her players are looking to extend their season for a further week and know what they have to do.

“Playing 40 minutes, enjoying Play-Offs basketball, and playing for the name on the front and the back of our jerseys, as well as the person next to us!”

The game is free to watch on the league YouTube channel.