No Dapaa, no Wells, no Gaynor, no problem! Head coach Chloe Gaynor and her players shrugged off absences and adversity to produce a sensational performance in their opening SLB Championship game as they shot down the previously unbeaten Essex Rebels.

The visitors had come into the Vertu Arena on the back of five wins. Four in winning the Betty Codona Trophy South Group and their opening league game against Caledonia seven days prior. But they left Newcastle shell-shocked and powerless after the Eagles powerhouse display.

For Gaynor’s Eagles it was a magical moment as each and everyone of those that stepped on to the court stepped up to cover absences and show a togetherness that was a credit to all. Their committed driven determined cohesion far too much for the Rebels who could hardly raise a yelp in answer.

Maria Mongomo led the home side in scoring with a superb 30-point performance that included a staggering seven of 11 from beyond the 3-point arc. Andrea Daley was a constant menace on the boards pulling down 18 rebounds and adding 22 big points with Alyssa Marin also netting double figures.

Captain Zoe Willis, Shanique Lucas and Natalie Cernohorska providing brilliant support all with nine points. Willis adding nine rebounds and Lucas size with five assists and five steals as well. Numbers and statistics that showed the all-round sparkling team effort from a group that believe in each other.

It truly was a performance for the ages and Eagles were at it from the get-go. Whether Essex had overhyped themselves with their five straight wins and seeing Newcastle short-handed is open to debate. But what isn’t is that Newcastle were ready for whatever the visitors had and how.

Daley got going early and everyone around her responded. With Mongomo hitting her first triple in the quarter the Eagles soared into a double-figure lead early with Essex coach Ashley Cookson calling for a time-out. It failed to stop Newcastle’s first quarter momentum.

Tenacious defence from the home side made every shot difficult for the Rebels and Daley was unstoppable. Then Mongomo netted a triple on the first period buzzer and Newcastle had a 29 – 12 lead to take into the second period.

A 7–0 run to open that quarter once again led by Daley gave Gaynor’s side a 24-point lead at 36–12 and she, her coaching staff and players were flying. Essex did rally a little and slowed their rampant opponents down a little. But Newcastle still won the period by three points.

It meant a dominant 20-point advantage at 46–26 for the Eagles to take into the dressing rooms. Daley with a double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds by the half and Mongomo with 15 points. It looked like a long way back for the Rebels.

Almost typically though whether through pride or sheer necessity the visitors did respond finally managing to find a way to penetrate the Eagles defence and slow down the prolific Daley in particular. Nat Chou was their main inspiration and her late triple actually cut the gap to single digits.

Their 28-point quarter threatened a Newcastle wobble but perhaps only from those watching on as the players certainly remained calm and focused. Five points from Cernohorska early in the final stanza re-establishing Newcastle’s double-digit advantage.

Essex were trying to hang on but the Eagles bombers had their sights firmly fixed on their target and successive triples from Mongomo put the lead to 18 and Cookson called a time-out. It had an effect.

They got within 10-points, but Gaynor held her nerve trusted in her players and let them run. Marin who deep into the fourth quarter hadn’t made a field goal backed herself and swished a triple. It was perhaps the dagger blow as Cookson called his final time-out.

It made no difference as Marin hit two more triples and Daley two free-throws as Newcastle’s final run saw them end the contest with a real flourish and an exceptional 19-point victory. A statement win? Perhaps, but it’s only one Championship game and Gaynor will not let her players get carried away.

It does though bode well as Eagles move forward and perhaps sends a single that when this side is all fit and firing together able to rotate and rest during games they could have a big say in the destiny of this season’s Championship.

The Eagles Women are back at the Vertu Arena on Saturday 22 November when London Lions will tip-off against them on Tyneside and tickets are available from the box office.