Recap
Sunday 8th October 2023
Newcastle Eagles v Manchester Mystics 1
Newcastle Eagles welcomed Manchester Mystics to the Vertu Arena for the opening game of the season.
The first quarter stated at a high pace with the Eagles catching Manchester Mystics cold where from the tip off Newcastle won the ball and broke at speed opening the scoring. The next minute saw both teams attacking and defending well with Newcastle giving away a number of fouls. Manchester asserted their dominance over with solid defensive work and ruthless conversations when attacking. A determined Eagles team defended hard but reached a 5 foul count with the first quarter score finishing, Newcastle Eagles 4 – Manchester Mystics 19.
The second quarter brought wholesale changes for both sides with all 5 players from each team replaced. Newcastle Eagles started brightly, opening the scoring and also matching Manchester’s intensity in both attack and defence. With Newcastle Eagles coming back into the game, Manchester Mystics saw their foul count increase to 5. A close quarter finishing with a score of 11-13, with the overall score Newcastle Eagles 15 – Manchester Mystics 32.
In the third quarter, the Eagles opening the scoring and followed it up with another basket from the free throw line. Manchester Mystics got off to a slow start however soon pressed forward scoring a number of baskets in quick succession. Some good work early on for the Eagles with Manchester eventually gaining the edge with a score of Eagles 10 – Mystics 19 for the quarter with the scoring standing at 25 – 51.
The final quarter saw a number of changes throughout with the speed and intensity of the first game of the season starting to show with the game pace slowing. Manchester had a good quarter with the difference between the sides being the conversion of possession into baskets.
The final quarter ended 9 – 19 with the final score finishing Newcastle Eagles 34 – Manchester Mystics 70.
Newcastle Eagles worked hard and for the first game of the season against a well established top team and can be proud of their efforts.
Manchester Mystics assistant coach James Carnegie stated “this was a great game with Newcastle Eagles being a well coached and organised team.”
Game Scorers:
Robyn Donnelly -10
Sophie Ward – 8
Ada Todd – 5
Kitty brooks – 4
Abigail Stempczyk – 3
Sophie Irwin – 4
