For the second week in a row the Newcastle Eagles went 1 and 1 on a tough double-header weekend in the SLB. This time it was the opposite scenario. A solid home win followed by an unlucky road loss in a game that for long periods they looked likely winners.

Ultimately a dogged physical Liverpool side found their shooting boots very late on to take a first-ever home win in the new franchise’s opening game at the M&S Bank Arena. Eagles despite facing adversity very nearly spoiling the party with a gritty tough display.

The Eagles had to dig deep all night as they faced a full Liverpool roster boosted by the recent signing of ex-Bristol Flyer Tevin Olison without both Cam Christon and Kyle Carey through injury. In the end down the stretch perhaps a touch of fatigue crept in.

Not that head Coach Marc Steutel would ever use that as excuse. He instils a commendable ‘next man up’ attitude into his side and may well feel they still had enough within their power to take the win. But it was not to be in a fiercely fought and competitive clash.

With Christon out Steutel restored his captain Josh Ward-Hibbert into his starting five and the captain did lead by example. It is such a boost and boon for Newcastle to have their leader fit and firing again and great to see him back on court.

Tavis Smith was a constant threat to Liverpool all night and once again displayed his scoring abilities to keep his side often in front and always in the game. And on the night the MVP award went to Trevond Barnes who had 21 points from the bench.

This has been a big weekend for Barnes who has certainly shown his worth to the team and the reasons why Steutel brought him to Newcastle. His performance in this game added to his great supporting role in Friday’s win over Surrey and showed the all-round threat again the Eagles have.

That it was not enough in the end is the disappointment. Not the lack of effort not the lack of commitment nor the ability to scrap and fight for forty minutes. It just came down to a few crucial moments that once again show that basketball can so often be a game of fine margins.

Runs and counter runs. Things going for you and then against and so many ifs and maybes can be discussed debated and reviewed. But the end cold analysis is the score line and this was one that unfortunately in the end did not go the Eagles way.

Newcastle opened brightly. A Smith triple and a Cole Long deuce registering the first five points od the contest. Liverpool playing in front of a noisy home support for the first time hit back with nine unanswered points to give them an early lead.

Olison coming off the bench to good effect to join SLB’s 2025/26 MVP Patrick Robinson to good effect. But the Eagles hit back with Smith in particular very effective and with support from Ward-Hibbert and Mitch Clark, Newcastle hit back with a 13 – 2 run that gave them a nice lead.

They eventually took the first period 18 – 13 and continued that momentum into the second. Blondeau Tchoukuiegno and a Ward-Hibbert triple helping them to increase their lead. Then Barnes came off the bench to great effect. Netting two triples and picking up an And-1 also.

It all added up to the Eagles lead peaking at 14-points 42 – 28 ahead deep into the second period and although Liverpool did net the final two points of the first half the Eagles were able to take a double-digit advantage into the locker rooms at the half.

Once again, they had showed their defensive capabilities by restricting their hosts to a mere 30-points in the first twenty minutes whilst finding enough offence to put themselves in a great position for the second half.

One thing though about Liverpool on the night was whatever pressure they were put under and despite the Eagles holding sway for the majority of the game they never lay down nor went away and a determined 8 – 0 run in the third brought them to within three points of Newcastle.

But another 9 – 2 Eagles run which included a Barnes And-1 and a triple restored their double-digit advantage until Liverpool ended the quarter with a late 5 – 2 finish to find some momentum. It was though Newcastle that still were in front as they took a 59 – 52 lead into the final period.

Eagles initially held firm and with six and a half minutes remaining still led by eight. Liverpool chipped away and once again got it back to three points before a Barnes deuce gave his side a 72 – 67 lead with 90 ticks of the clock remaining.

That’s when those shooting boots were delivered for the home side. After only making two triples all game Liverpool hit back-to-back bombs from Robinson and Olison to take the lead at 73 – 72. Their first lead since early in the first.

The game was inside the final minute, and Barnes restored the Eagles lead with a lay-up only for Tevin Smith to nail a third triple inside the last 78 seconds to put the home side two-up. Olison sealing the deal with one of two from the line with three seconds left on the clock.

The final quarter was 25 – 15 to Liverpool who finally found their range when needed. During the contest they had been the stronger side inside outrebounding Newcastle, getting more second chance points and scoring more in the paint.

But those final three dagger triples added to perhaps fresher legs due to having a full roster may well have been the difference as they got their home history off to a perfect start. For Newcastle it was so near yet so far, but they live to fight and battle on another day as they came up just short.