It was another remarkable win for Newcastle Eagles in The Vertu Motors Arena last Saturday night as they took down highly rated Caledonia Gladiators 81 – 66 in The Super League Championship to follow up the win against previously unbeaten Oaklands Wolves seven days earlier.

Head Coach Chloe Gaynor has now guided her side into the top four of the SLB Championship and on the evidence of the last two weeks has shown her charges deserve to be in such a lofty position. She reflected on the latest statement win as well as looking forward to the next challenge.

“I think this win over Caledonia is another step-up. Against Oaklands we saw what we could be and in this game we lived up to that. It’s always a test after you’ve had a good performance to do it again. The targets on your back especially after beating an unbeaten side and the girls lived up to the challenge.”

“We pride ourselves on the defensive end and that’s what we talk about first. Scoring the ball is nice but defence is what wins you games and wins you championships. Caledonia have shown that because they’ve been a good defensive team in the past couple of seasons.”

“Chantelle (Handy) does a really good job of coaching that end of the floor so for us to hold them to 66 points is really with all the threats they have especially inside. We’re not as big and strong as they are. We do have what people perceive to be a height disadvantage but we just look at our advantages.”

One of the big threats Caledonia did possess was their ability to knockdown the long-range shots from beyond the 3-point line. Something that Gaynor, her coaches and players worked really hard to combat in the game.

“We’ve spoken about a lot about winning games by stopping the 3-point shot. There are a lot of good shooters in this league and its something we have to be aware of. It’s just about us being active inside and out and making sure that we put people in positions that they don’t want to be in.”

Looking at the 15-point win its clear that Gaynor and her full team got the scout pretty much spot-on which also included all five starters putting in stellar performances and all netting double figure scoring contributions.

“Its testament to the way this team works together and operates. We have great threats in Jada and T from a scoring prospective and in recent weeks we’ve seen Shannon really starting to light up. Abby’s showing more of herself again being aggressive and we really saw that tonight against Caledonia.”

“Me and Lauren spoke when I first took the job. She’s a great passer but she has to provide something for us points-wise. Now we’re really starting to see that she’s a pass first player that you have to guard her scoring wise as well.”

After such a great win Gaynor is so looking forward to what is coming next from her ever-improving committed together team and the journey they are on.

“I look forward to coming to practice. I look forward to the games and seeing the joy in the team and them enjoying their time together. That is something that is really special within this group, the togetherness within it.”

“I just said to them in the locker room after the game that at times I can be critical of them a lot. Not necessarily verbally but through the drills I put them through in practice and demanding them all to lead.”

“They are starting to lead as individuals and there’s not necessarily one leader. They’re a group of leaders that are all doing their best to work it out together.”

“Right now, I’d say there’s no-one in the League that wants to play against us and that’s something we have to be aware of. I’ve said to the girls that they cannot be complacent now and we have to work even harder than we have done all season.”

“That’s the challenge, to continue to build and continue to get better and continue to learn about ourselves more and focus on the game that’s in-hand and that’s all we can do right now.”

That next game is London Lions at Barking Abbey on Saturday night. Gaynor’s old stamping ground as a junior player coming through the ranks to the status as Head Coach of one of the top professional sides in the country. Another win there would be another step in the right direction