Newcastle Eagles continued their superb form and run of results with a convincing road win over bottom of the table London Lions on Saturday night.

It was another double-digit winning margin which took the Eagles to a 10 wins 2 loss record and raised them to third in the League standings.

Perhaps as well it’s a measure of their performance and win that they may be slightly disappointed that they didn’t win by more against a Lions side really struggling this season. But the objectives were a win and an opportunity to spread meaningful minutes across the roster and they achieved both.

They also significantly took the W without having to risk playing star USA forward Tierra Hodges. She  was afforded the luxury of a night off enabling her to rest a troublesome ankle injury. Her teammates covering her absence well enough allowing Hodges to cheer them on from the bench.

With Rachael Bland also missing it meant a step-up to the starting five for ex-Barking Abbey graduate Zoe Willis on the court where she learned her trade in her junior years. She was also made Captain for the night and certainly responded to Head Coach Chloe Gaynor’s call.

With 13 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals and effective energy she certainly led from the front. Driving her teammates on whenever she was on court in a well-deserved MVP performance. Not that she was alone as she had great support all around her.

Shannon Hatch continued her fine recent shooting form netting three triples from four attempts on her way to a very efficient 19 points. Jada Guinn came alive in the second half registering 13 of her 19 points in the final twenty minutes adding in 9 rebounds and 7 assists for a great all-round contribution.

Lauren Saiki as ever was also a constant source of supply and support with 12 points and 6 assists and helped set the tone particularly in the first two quarters. The contributions from the bench players was also significant as Gaynor afforded them meaningful minutes to help her side.

Lyric Swann and Alex Campbell both having season-high performances showing they can be relied upon in games like this and Princess Adeogun along with Sarah Birkett also getting on court. Perhaps though one of the biggest bonuses on the night was the continuing return of Kendall Currence.

Currence who before her injury was often Newcastle’s ‘third whip’ on scoring. She still looked a little ring-rusty shooting wise in this came but managed to play almost 22 minutes as she continues her rehab that will help her and her team out further down the line.

The Eagles were down early in the contest by five points but got going as the first quarter wound down and once Saiki put them ahead 19 to 17 inside the last minute of the opening ten they were never headed again in the game.

The significant quarter being the second with Hatch doing her thing. With support from Saiki and Willis in particular and good contributions from the bench they took the period by 11-points to establish a fourteen-point advantage at 48 to 34 as they headed to the locker rooms.

Credit to Lions for sticking around in the second twenty minutes and not allowing the Eagles to pull away. They even threatened a comeback on a couple of occasions but every time that threat raised its head it was snuffed out by Newcastle’s combined efforts.

The Eagles taking the third by a point and tying the final quarter to complete a solid display that will send them off on the road to Oaklands Wolves next weekend for a huge encounter in good heart, confidence and form. A double over the league leaders certainly not being out of the equation.