A much-improved competitive performance from Friday night’s loss at Leicester almost say Marc Steutel’s Newcastle Eagles put an end to their losing streak. However despite better defence and spreading the scoring load they still came up a little short in a battling effort that they took all the way.

They say in a team performance that one man doesn’t make a team but in the cold light of day perhaps sometimes there’s an exception to every rule. The Eagles had five players in double figures and got 32 points from their bench.

Unfortunately, for Newcastle, Patrick Robinson for the home side had one of those games that players dream about. Shooting 13 of 19, 71% inside and 60% from downtown for an overall percentage of 68% he went off for 31 points from the Cheshire bench being the difference maker.

After the defeat at Leicester, Coach Steutel had talked about finding a way to start games better and restrict the opposition. Part of that answer he hoped was shaking up his starting five. Manny Kanwei and Ray’sean Taylor dropping to the bench with Malcom Smith and Mitch Clarke promoted.

That Clarke was able to start in itself was good news as he looked to have picked up an injury at Leicester as did Maceo Jack but he also started the game against his former employers. Jack having spent two seasons leading The Phoenix in scoring.

An added bonus as well for Steutel was the sight of Deion Hammond suited up and available from the bench as his registration was confirmed before the game. It was a timely bonus for a side looking to break a run of 3 defeats.

Initially Cheshire did start the better but didn’t run away with things. Clarke began to control the tempo for Newcastle and Captain Cole Long led from the front as The Eagles eased into the game. Two free-throws from Smith giving them their first lead at 11 to 10.

A lead they pushed up to seven at one point in the first period with Hammond netting his first shot in an Eagles vest as he tripled during the run that took Eagles in front. A satisfactory first ten minutes going Newcastle’s way and ending with them four points in front.

They continued to lead in the second quarter although Phoenix were not going away any time soon Newcastle did peak their lead at 40 to 32. Eight points to the good they then saw a determined home side produce nine unanswered points to force Steutel into a time-out to stop the run.

It was a well-timed tactical break and with Kanwei showing real power and presence from the bench Newcastle wrestled the lead back with five straight points. But two late triples from Cheshire against two Kanwei free throws meant the teams went to the locker rooms tied at 47 points apiece.

It had already been a tight hard-fought game and that continued as the second half unfolded. Both sides had little runs and the game did sway from end to end with neither side quite able to make a decisive burst to give them full control.

Eagles kept sharing the load but every time they looked in control it seemed as if Robinson would pop up with a basket for The Phoenix. Newcastle led 60 to 57 with under four minutes to go in the third. Little did they know that was going to be the last time they led in the game.

A 6 – 0 run for Cheshire turned the lead around and they had a little bit of momentum as they took the period by five points to lead by five points at 69 to 64 with the final ten minutes to play. Eagles though were not down and out by any stretch of the imagination.

Jack had shown up well against his former side. Long kept pushing his troops on and Clarke was the catalyst for Newcastle to come back to within one point as his layup mde it a one-point game with just over five minutes to play.

However, another burst from Cheshire of seven points straight took the lead back up to eight points and Steutel called for another time-out. From that discussion the Eagles were rocked by a Skyler White triple that gave Phoenix the biggest lead of the game at 85 to 74 but still Newcastle fought.

Taylor for two, Long with a triple and another Jack deuce and Eagles were back within four points and looking in the ascendency. But that was as close as Newcastle got. Laquincy Rideau from the charity stripe and a deuce from Robinson taking him through the 30-point barrier finally broke The Eagles.

It’ll be small consolation that Coach Steutel’s group did pick themselves up from Friday’s loss and put in a determined display that was much closer to where he wants his side to be. They never gave up and were in this game all the way but ultimately they couldn’t quite get over the line.

A fourth successive SLB Championship defeat then for The Eagles and leading into their opening European North Basketball League group game not the form they would have chosen. Dziki Warszawa being the visitors to The Vertu Arena this Tuesday night with a 7:30pm tip-off.

Perhaps the added incentive of further European glory following last season’s run to The ENBL Final might just be the sort of occasion and opportunity to turn their form and results around.