Newcastle Eagles lost their 100% early season SLBW record going down to a powerful Caledonia side on the road in Scotland 104 – 82. Head Coach Chloe Gaynor’s side went into the game having won their opening two games but faced Gladiators who also were two from two.

Gaynor knew it was always going to be tough ask of her players to come out of an Arena against one of the League’s favourites to lift silverware and in the end, so it proved. Eagles played well in spells and started the game well but by the fourth quarter Gladiators superior depth was evident.

Newcastle had battled well throughout the first three periods but the fourth was a quarter too far. They looked fatigued as the game clock ticked down and whilst never letting their heads go down the ability for Caledonia to rotate and rest gave the Scottish side an edge that was too sharp.

Eagles actually started the game flying and came out positive when fresh to score the first seven points of the game to stun their hosts early on. When Raven Thompson netted a deuce halfway through the first ten minutes the visitors actually led 15 to 7.

Gladiators hit back and reduced the deficit to two until Maddy Hinton’s late bucket gave Newcastle the first quarter at 22 – 18. Nala Williams’ two free-throws early in the second kept that four-point gap but Caledonia then turned the screw.

A 12 – 2 run turned the game around and forced Gaynor into a time-out to stop the rot. It almost worked as Thompson tripled on the restart and Eagles hauled themselves to within a point of the Gladiators at 36 – 35.

But despite Thompson, Hinton, and Williams’ efforts in particular the Eagles were struggling to maintain parity and despite a late triple from Thompson found themselves on the wrong end of a losing quarter by ten points and a six-point deficit at half time.

The third period was a more nip and tuck fight between the two sides. However, whenever Newcastle threatened a comeback, the Gladiators stood firm and always had an answer and a reply without totally dominating.

Inside the paint though Newcastle were struggling to contain the height and power of the Gladiators and it was always going to prove difficult to pull back a 14-point gap inside the final ten minutes of play. In fact, it was the late minutes that saw the Gladiators pull well clear in the end.

Every time Newcastle did score Caledonia seemed to double that with their response and as time ticked down and the Eagles tired the Gladiators marched away. It was a dominant and decisive finish to the contest that gave the score line a deserved end result for a very strong contender.

Eagles will look at the game and analyse in the cold light of day. They will see a big difference that the bench players made. Caledonia’s backup hitting 31-points to Newcastle’s eight. The rebound battle was lost 44 to 35 and the home side scored 56 points in the paint to Eagles 42.

Statistics that for once perhaps do not lie. Newcastle gave it a good shot but by the end of the forty minutes had learned the harsh realities of strength in depth and giving a full four quarter performance.

Raven Thompson earned MVP honours for Newcastle with 22 points and 8 rebounds. Nala Williams had 20 points adding 6 rebounds and 5 assists whilst Maddy Hinton continued her good form with 19 points. But it just was not enough on the night.

Tickets for this Saturday’s home game against the Sheffield Hatters are on sale now from the box office.