Was it a case of Deja-vu? Perhaps Groundhog Day or even lightning actually striking twice in the same place. Whatever it was for the second week running the Newcastle Eagles after being so competitive for so long once again fell away in the final period to lose to the Sheffield Hatters.

Hatters a side that swept the board last season winning all four domestic trophies are expected once again to be right up in the top echelons of the SLBW. A tough opponent then for Chloe Gaynor’s side but one they more than matched even into the final period of the game.

That’s when, just like last week at Caledonia, things fell apart and Sheffield dominated at both ends of the floor to take a deserved victory in the end although the margin of the victory was perhaps a bit harsh on the Eagles.

At the end of the third quarter even the most ardent gambler would not have known where to play their win money. Such was the closeness of the competitive clash. However, it was Hatters who made the decisive run and controlled finish to leave Newcastle down but not downcast.

Once again there were positives for Gaynor to take from the game but also once again her side failed to make it about 40-minutes and four quarters of basketball and against the more vaunted sides in the SLBW that has to be an issue they must fix and fix quickly.

There is no doubting the potential and abilities of this Newcastle side who have to find a way to put in a full buzzer to buzzer performance especially against the top-rated sides. If they find that way, then there’s every chance at a run at a top four placing.

Sheffield started the stronger in the opening period with Nina Krisper and Tierra Hodges showing they were going to be a handful all game and pushed their side out to a 9 – 3 start. Newcastle responded in kind with seven unanswered points finishing on a Maddy Hinton triple.

It meant a first lead of the game at 10 – 9 for Newcastle. But back came Sheffield and at one stage they established a nine-point advantage. But with Nala Willimas pulling the strings and JK Johnson looking lively the home side cut the gap to 25 – 21 by the end of the first.

The second was the Eagles quarter and Polly Storie in particular. Back-to-back triples and then three free-throws after being fouled attempting another triple saw Eagles turn the game around as the forged ahead in style by 44 – 33. Storie leading the way for Newcastle.

Once again though Sheffield rallied and a 14 to 4 finish to the half meant that the Eagles lead was cut to a mere point at 48 – 47 as the side’s went to the locker rooms to talk things over. A game that was completely in the balance.

Newcastle just about held sway in the early part of the third period. Johnson’s two free-throws giving the Eagles the biggest lead of a nip and tuck quarter putting the home side up 61 – 56. But again, Sheffield rallied and came back meaning the game was locked at 68 – 68 after three.

Eagles then with a driving layup from Williams actually took the lead 70 – 68 early in the final period. Sheffield with Krisper and Hodges in particular in dominant form inside though were not phased and produced a 12 – 0 run that effectively sealed the deal on the game.

Newcastle briefly rallied and stemmed the flow of the game, but Sheffield sensed blood and another good run broke Gaynor’s sides resolve for the final time and the Hatters were able to claim a vital road victory against a top four rival.

The statistics of the game showed Sheffield ahead in most categories. One of the biggest factors being the inside play of the Hatters who outscored Newcastle 62 to 30 in the paint. They also outrebounded Newcastle significantly and defensively made great adjustments in the second half.

It meant stifled offence from the Eagles in the crucial run down the stretch as they were taken out of their rhythm and could not stop Sheffield at the other end who closed out the game in strong fashion to level up both side’s records in the early season going at 2-wins and 2 defeats each.

For the Eagles, a balanced forty-minute scoring effort from Johnson saw her lead the Eagles with 23-points. Storie was next with 16 points and Hinton had 14 but between them they only managed two of those combined 30-points in the second 20 minutes of the game.

Raven Thompson had 12 points and seven rebounds in support. But the eye-catching display on the night for the Eagles came from guard Williams who with 13 points (all in the second half), 4 rebounds, 13 assists and 9 steals came preciously close to a triple double.

The Eagles will have time to dissect and learn from a defeat where they once again they came close but, in the end, not close enough.