The end analysis is of course another loss in the L column and a second successive SLB Championship defeat that takes the Newcastle Eagles to a 2 – 2 level record after four games played. Perhaps the more in-depth analysis that will follow will give Coach Marc Steutel positives to take.

A question only his players and he can answer probably privately when they break the game down. But to go down to a first home defeat of the season by a mere five points to the Country’s best team and pre-season silverware favourites is not the worst result Newcastle will have this season.

The Eagles went into the game once again without Captains Darius Defoe still recovering from his long-term injury and Josh Ward-Hibbert who is still suffering from an ankle injury that may need further investigation.

But Coach Steutel never uses players that are missing as an excuse. He believes basketball is about having a next man-up mentality and all teams will suffer at some stage from injuries and unavailability’s. What has to be addressed is the things they can control and put right.

Two of those were the start to the game and the start to the second half. Both times Eagles lapsed at a bad time and put themselves in positions where they had to show durability, toughness and battling togetherness to bring themselves into the game.

That they did that is great credit to them against a stacked Lions side that are already proving very difficult to beat domestically and improved their own record to a perfect 4 – 0 for the campaign. It could though perhaps have been different.

The start of the game saw Newcastle come out tentative and looking nervous as Lions raced into a 10 unanswered points run causing Steutel to call a time-out after only 2:34 played. Coming back on to court Malcolm Smith and Mitch Clarke replaced Ray’Sean Taylor and Marco Anthony

It was though still tough going for the Eagles and there was only 6:42 remaining in the quarter when Smith finally got them on the score board with 2 from 2 from the free-throw line. Then an unsportsmanlike foul was called on Johnathan Williams and Clarke made another 2 from 2 at the foul line.

London though were dominating on the boards. An And-1 from Joel Scott prompted another mini-burst with Steutel picking up a technical foul for taking his protests against the officiating a touch too far.

Deane Williams was the next to spark Lions with two tremendous spectacular dunks in a row to consolidate their lead but it was then that Newcastle started to pick things up and Taylor who had been benched earlier began to come to life.

Maceo Jack made two free-throws before Taylor made the home side’s first field goal with 2:14 left in the period quickly followed by another Jack deuce and suddenly Lions were forced into taking a time-out as the Eagles finally brandished their claws.

Taylor was now in the grove and four more free-throws earned were all sunk and Steutel’s men were back within five at 14 to 19. Lions though were still using that early quarter cushion and a Deane Williams triple enabled them to close the period eight points up at 24 to 16.

As the second quarter opened Steutel unleashed Manny Kanwei from the bench to devasting effect. Taylor finding the big centre twice in quick succession, the second a peach of a no-look pass, for Kanwei to make two thunderous dunks and suddenly Newcastle were only a point down at 23 – 24.

Lions in early foul trouble with still 8:02 to play in the half fouled Kanwei as he cut to the basket. The young British forward made one of two and managed to deflect the ball to Jack who tripled to give Newcastle their first lead at 27 to 26 after an 11 – 2 run to force another London time out.

The visitors responding well with a Scott deuce, a Soluade triple and an Arryn Rai bucket to net seven in a row forcing Steutel to call another time-out. Coming out of it Brett Reed got his only bucket of the game from a great Clarke assist and then Taylor continued to torment the Lions defence.

It meant it was very much game on as the half-time buzzer sounded with Eagles only down by three at 41 to 44 with twenty minutes to play.

But just as they had in the first half the Eagles started slowly in the second and a 9 – 0 Lions run forced an Eagles time-out and the reintroduction of Kanwei who helped his side steady and then disrupt Lions. Taylor being fouled in the act of shooting a triple and made 2 of the 3.

Lions lost discipline under The Eagles pressure and had a double bench technical to give Jack and Taylor a free throw each to bring the men in black back into the game once more and within two points as the intensity increased.

Taylor in particular, well supported by Jack and tenacious defence all-round meant Eagles won the third quarter to be only two points down at 62 to 64 going into the final ten minutes of pulsating top-class action.

Lions scored the first five points of the period but a Jack triple again worried the Lions enough to take a time-out at 67 – 69. This time the Lions made their final decisive run returning with a 6 – 0 run that just gave them the gap they needed to control the game enough to hold on for the win.

Eagles had given it their all and in Taylor had the games’ outstanding individual. But Lions had that depth of roster and ability to throw fresh bodies at a brave but tiring Eagles side that gave everything but just came up short in what was a really good game and fine advert for the SLB.