A brave, brave effort from Newcastle Eagles just came up short against a tough Caledonia Gladiators outfit up in East Kilbride at The PlaySport Arena yesterday evening. Newcastle without Abby Lowe through sickness just didn’t have enough depth to hold off a red-hot shooting home side.

Kendall Currence had missed most of practice this week as well but was deemed fit enough to not only play but even start in place of Lowe. She managed to play over 34 minutes but was restricted in her offensive play and this time was the third wheel that didn’t spin for the Eagles.

It would though be churlish to put the loss down to those factors as everyone who came onto court for Newcastle gave their all in a battle that went almost down to the wire. Gladiators themselves were short-handed with Captain Erin Mcgarrachan so often a spark for her side out through injury.

The Eagles opened slowly as the home side established an early 7 – 3 lead but from there it was Jada Guinn and Tierra Hodges that combined to put Newcastle in the driving seat. A determined surge as Lauren Saiki pulled the strings and hit the 1-2 Eagles punch saw them claw back the lead.

So much so that by the end of the first period Head Coach Chloe Gaynor’s side had turned the game around and led by six after the opening ten minutes at 20 – 14. Two free throws from Hodges as the second period unfolded had her side’s lead up to eight at one point but Gladiators were right there.

Their push saw them slowly come back to parity although with Hodges and Guinn dominant Newcastle managed to just hold onto their lead by five points at 38 – 33 as the side’s went into the locker rooms to take a much-needed breather after twenty minutes of non-stop action.

The third period was a vastly different one for both sides. Eagles once again through their dynamic duo kept finding away to get inside and score but every time one side tried to break through the other seemed to find an answer.

For Caledonia it was from the 3-point line in the third period. They made five triples in the quarter which helped them once again to just edge out Newcastle in the ten-minute stretch and Newcastle’s lead was cut to three points as the side’s faced the final stanza.

And it was still anyone’s game and guess as to which way the final score line would lean as those ten minutes unfolded. Perhaps though the crucial moment came with 7:16 to go in the game. Hodges picking up a fourth foul and having to go to the bench to avoid picking up a game ending fifth.

Gladiators had by then just edged in front in the game and although they didn’t dominate whilst Hodges was off court they did gradually slow Guinn down and take more control establishing a six-point gap before Gaynor returned her star forward to proceedings.

It was unfortunately just too little too late as Hodges could not inspire a late comeback and Gladiators held on to take a very hard-fought win in what was a great game and a superb advert for the Super League Women’s Basketball Championship.

A result perhaps many would have expected as the more favoured Gladiators are a tough well balanced outfit but once again this Newcastle side under Gaynor showed they will have a big say in the League standing this season.