Newcastle Eagles 2025/26 season came to a heart-breaking end down in St. Albans on Saturday night. After a season where so often Head Coach Chloe Gaynor and her players rose above adversity, they just failed to find one more special moment of resilience.

Oaklands Wolves taking a might close thrilling encounter 72-68 on the night to leave Eagles in that ‘there’s no tomorrow; place that is and can be the cruelty of play-off basketball. It was an amazing effort on the night though from Newcastle who just in the end couldn’t find a way past their hosts.

Wolves now advance to the semi-finals with a fourth victory in four games against Eagles. Two in the League, one in the cup and now play-off pain. They have certainly been a pain in Newcastle’s side this campaign and very much Gaynor’s sides nemesis.

Even in this game Eagles showed their grit determination and commitment after being down early. Clawing their way back into the contest especially with a superb third quarter but just never quite being able to quench the hungry Wolves.

Gaynor sprang a surprise on Oaklands with her line-up. Harriet Ottewill-Soulsby back on the roster and following her injury hot-shot guard Alyssa Marin retuning to add firepower from the bench. It was hoped their inclusion might tip the scales in Newcastle’s favour.

After her lay-off Gaynor resisted the temptation to start Marin preferring to have her punch coming off the bench. It was a sensible and correct move although early on it did not look that way as Wolves came out firing and looking for  blood.

Eagles were caught cold and the home side shot into a 14-2 lead. Andrea Daley on her way to yet another double-double in the game temporarily stopped the run with four points in a row but back came Oaklands to go 19-6 up.

It looked ominous but enter Marin. Two triples and then Shanique Lucas with a deuce and an And-1 and Eagles were back within two points at 22-20. Wolves though netted the last bucket of a fast-paced first period to take a four-point advantage into the second.

Jada Dapaa who was solid throughout the forty minutes again cut the gap to two, but Oaklands responded and with their starting five all contributing produced a 7-1 run that gave them a modicum of control.

Daley hit a triple and Dapaa a free-throw and once again Newcastle were within four. But Gaynor’s side were in foul trouble, and this allowed Wolves another 6-0 run that took their lead back to ten points as time ticked down in the half.

Eagles were still in their fighting though and Dapaa with a driving lay-up and Marin a single from the line saw them finish the first twenty minutes with the final three points meaning Wolves led by 41-32 as the teams headed to the locker rooms.

The home side managed to keep the visitors at bay in the early going of the third quarter. Holding on to that eight-point gap until at 43-35 down the Eagles unleashed their claws. Daley almost inevitably kick-started it for her side with a two-point basket.

That was the start of an excellent 10-2 run by Newcastle that was capped by Zoe Willis with a two-point play then a triple that tied the game up at 45-45. Oaklands replied 4-2 to stop the run but Eagles had momentum and continued the onslaught.

Seven points personal in a row from Marin gave Newcastle their first lead of the night as they went five in front at 54-49. But this time Oaklands with Daley off court having picked up a fourth foul showed their fight and responded with four of their own to make it a one-point ball game.

That one-point being in favour of Newcastle, but Wolves now had the drive and opened the final ten minutes with four more to retake the lead. Sarah Wells tripled for Newcastle and the game was back level at 57-57 and was anyone’s for the taking.

Oaklands starters and particularly Tayjanna Mcghee-Pleasant and captain Shanice Beckford-Norton kept the number four seeds just in front as Daley was still on the bench with four fouls. But when Mcghee-Pleasant nudged Wolves six points ahead Gaynor returned Daley to the fray.

It galvanised Newcastle and a ding-dong battle ensued once again although Eagles were still chasing. They got back to within a single point with a Dapaa bucket making it 69-68 but they were in the penalty and that gave Wolves the chance to ice the game from the line.

Beckford-Norton with a pair and Danielle Mccray with another netting the free-throws very late on to edge the Wolves into a crucial four-point lead and for once and finally the Eagles could not respond as their valiant effort fell just short.

Statistics often lie. They can often be quoted incorrectly but perhaps the telling one in a four-point game was that Newcastle missed five more free-throws than Oaklands in the final analysis. But both sides will look at the game and see periods where they could have done better at both ends.

The vast majority of that reflective review will show Gaynor that her side went toe-to-toe after a slow start and very nearly came away with a win. They competed superbly throughout and just did not quite have enough in the end as their season came to a dramatic end.

Daley once again showing her leadership drive with an impressive 19 points 11 rebounds 5 assists and 4 steals although credit Oaklands for making her take 22 shots to get those points. Marin returned well with 16 points and Dapaa had 13 points and 9 rebounds.

However, the only statistic that really matters whatever the thoughts feelings and efforts of both sides is the final scoreline and unfortunately and devastatingly that went against Newcastle.