Newcastle Eagles bounced back in tremendous style on Sunday afternoon to take an excellent road win down in Sheffield by 87 – 81 in the SLB Championship.

It showed real character and commitment from Head Coach Marc Steutel’s men to take a first away win of the 2026/27 season after a disappointing close loss on Friday night at home to Manchester Basketball.

The Eagles taking the win despite losing three of the four quarters played. The only quarter won was a massive one, the third. That came after they had been as many as 12-points down inside the second period and had to fight their way back into the game.

Newcastle had a good all-round solid team performance with all those stepping onto court during the forty minutes playing their part. Cole Long was ice-cold from the field all day long netting a team high 20 points with a clinical shooting display.

Then there was the dynamic duo of Blondeau Tchoukiegno and Tavis Smith in the backcourt. The two guards starting to forge a real relationship both scored 18 points. Tchoukiegno adding six rebounds and Smith five assists and three steals.

But perhaps one of the most pleasing factors for Head Coach Marc Steutel and the Eagles side was the cameo effort from Captain Josh Ward-Hibbert who had a vital 11 points and six rebounds off the bench. A welcome return to form and fitness from the skipper.

Eagles led 3 – 2 after an early Long triple and when Sheffield scored seven in a row it was Long again that responded to inspire a Newcastle seven-point reply that gave his side another slight advantage in a tight opening period.

With the scores tied at 19-points each it was Sharks who scored the last five points of the first quarter to take a lead into the second. A lead they extended at one point to 12-points at 45 – 33 before once again Newcastle hit back.

A very good 11 to 6 finish to the half from Steutel’s side bringing them back to a single digit deficit at 51 – 44 as the sides trooped off to the locker rooms on the half-time buzzer. Then came that third defining quarter on the resumption.

Conceding 51-points in the first twenty minutes was not in Newcastle’s game plan but only conceding 12 in the third most certainly was. Whatever Steutel said to his charges in the confines of the locker room at half-time definitely working.

Steutel wants to build his side’s DNA on a defensive identity to springboard their offence and an 11 – 2 opening to the second half iced by Long’s triple and an Adam Hamilton dunk put the Eagles back up by 55 – 53.

The momentum was Newcastle’s and a further nine unanswered points gave them a good lead at 71 to 63 to take into the final stanza. They continued that push peaking their advantage at 12-points as they went 81 – 69 in front.

Sharks gave them a scare going on a powerful 12 – 2 surge to bring them all the way back to only 83 – 81 down inside the last minute. But Newcastle and Smith in particular kept their heads and the Eagles guard knocked down four free-throws in the last five seconds to ice the game.

Smith’s coolness at the free-throw line at the conclusion of the game earning him MVP honours just in front of Long as the Eagles squared off the weekend with a third league win of the campaign.

This Friday the Eagles are back at home when Surrey 89ers visit for the first time this season and fans will be eager to see the two sides match-up following the visitors’ pull-out from pre-season and recent signing of former Eagle’s player Emmanuel Kanwei. Tickets are available on the box office.