A first competitive outing for Head Coach Chloe Gaynor’s 2026/27 Eagles ended in a loss on the road in East Kilbride against the heavily touted Caledonia Gladiators.

The Scottish side a pre-season pundits tip to be challenging for all the major national honours in Super League Basketball (SLB) this season.

They looked a very solid outing on the evidence of this showing and deserved to take the win on the day. But in reality pre-season is about bringing players together, learning to work and play alongside each other and getting valuable game minutes under your belt.

In that sense Gaynor will be pleased with that part of the mission being achieved and the game will give her and her coaching staff plenty to reflect and build on going forward. A true test may be next Saturday in the Vertu Arena when the side’s meet again in another friendly match-up.

That will be a game where both side’s having seen each other and both side’s having studied each other live and no doubt through the week in video can see where they can both make adjustments and learn from the previous game.

On the evidence of this 40 minutes it is perhaps Newcastle who have most to learn and look to put right. But, in the very end analysis it is, as stated, pre-season and important to learn and grow together as a team in the early openings of the season.

Gladiators led by 6’ 3” American power forward MJ Johnson who had a game high 30-points led from first tip to final buzzer and always look likely winners. They had four other players in double figures as they spread their scoring and minutes around.

Frannie Hottinger a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds. Mackenzie Smith also had 16 points with 4 assists dished out. Tia Freeman had 10 points and 7 assists. Captain Maura Fitzpatric also netted 10 points and Jadyn Weltz served up 7 assists. Good balance throughout.

For Newcastle, a very much-changed side from last season’s campaign it was their newbies that led the way. A big double-double from forward Cordasia Harris catching the eye with 14 points and 12 rebounds although she was not Eagles leading scorer.

That honour went to guard Nala Williams whose all-round game showed she can contribute across multiple skill bases. Williams having 15 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. She did also have 9 turnovers which would have disappointed her.

Aussie shooting guard Maddy Hinton hit 13 points and Jakayla “JK” Johnson was another to fill the stats line with her numbers having 10 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals. Unfortunately she also had 5 turnovers. Polly Storrie against her old club was solid and also had 10 points.

Eagles other scorers were Raven Thompson with 4 points and 5 rebounds, Alex Campbell with 4 points but also 6 turnovers and Grace Rae had 2 points. Gemma Campbell also managed almost 14 minutes of action for a Newcastle side who were without the not risked Natalie Cernohorska.

Gaynor spread the minutes across her roster in a worthwhile exercise from which she will learn a lot about her players as a team. On the rebounding side they went well with 41 taken against 34 conceded. Turnovers though was perhaps a big key to the gsme.

Newcastle giving the ball up on 35 occasions and conceding 37 points from those turnovers. That is certainly a figure that Gaynor will immediately want to look at. Teams as good and as solid as Caledonia certainly do not need to be fed the ball off Newcastle’s mistakes.

The Eagles were nine down by the end of the first quarter at 32 – 23. They hit back really well in the second period to get within two points at one stage 39 – 37. Caledonia though steadied.

But Eagles still won the quarter 23 – 21 to narrow the gap and by half-time were still in the game but went into the locker rooms down 53 – 46.

The Gladiators certainly had the better of the last twenty minutes of action taking both the third and fourth quarters to eventually cruise to what on paper looks a comfortable victory. Gaynor will be analytical and thorough in her de-brief with her team but knows she has talent in her side.

The two sides will do it all again this coming Saturday night in the Vertu Arena as the build up to the SLB continues. Tip-off in the Eagles nest being at 7:30pm.

Tickets for the home pre-season reverse fixture are available from the box office.