NEWCASTLE Eagles went to the top of the BBL Championship table after a hard-fought victory over the spirited Essex Pirates on Saturday night.
But despite this being a top v bottom clash it wasn’t easy for the Eagles – with acting head coach Dave Forrester admitting: “This was a very tough game which was in doubt until the last two minutes.
“I’m glad that the guys stayed strong enough down the stretch to win. I was impressed with Essex and how they played was nowhere near what their record suggests.”
The Pirates belied their winless season to stretch the Eagles, but it was also a terrific effort from Newcastle, who had had a tough game the previous night, beating Guildford Heat 98-90 at home, before their long journey south.
Add in the fact they were missing the play-calling abilities of head coach Fab Flournoy as well as his presence on court, and perhaps Newcastle’s players and stand-in coaching staff deserve credit too.
The two wins in two days which sent Eagles top of the table are probably the best way Flournoy’s players can send a tonic to their ailing leader, in hospital recovering from pneumonia. The Eagles were led by shooting star Joe Chapman who hit six triples on his way to a game-high 29 points, with excellent support once again from evergreen Charles Smith and the mercurial Trey Moore.
However, all the Eagles played their part and there were good contributions from big men Kadiri Richard – who continues his good form of 2011 – and Darius Defoe, who after a sluggish start came good in the final quarter.
Skipper Andrew Bridge led from the front and there was a nice cameo from Andre Lockhart too.
Eagles started strongly as they opened up an early lead, but they could not shake off a resilient Pirates outfit as the visitors ended the quarter leading 17-20.
In the second period, the home side got themselves right back into the game to lead 23-22, but that was the last time that they were in front.
A 16-2 burst from the Eagles gave them a lead they wouldn’t relinquish and they headed into the locker rooms ahead by 15 points at 48-33 at the half.
In the second half, a 9-0 burst midway through the third period from Essex closed the deficit to just seven points at 52-59.
The Eagles remained conscious of the fact that the home side were getting themselves right back into the game, and stepped up the intensity at both ends of the floor.
They were able to keep the fightback at bay for the rest of the quarter to lead 57-66 heading into the final ten minutes.
With the Eagles tiring, the home side did close to within six points at 62-68 but that was as close as they could get, as the visitors re-grouped put another run together and held their nerve from the foul-line to secure the victory.
Next up is a top of the table clash at Sport Central this coming Friday night against Cheshire Jets.
ESSEX: Taner Adu 15, Adrien Sturt 14, Colin Sing 11
NEWCASTLE : Joe Chapman 29, Charles Smith 22, Trey Moore 12
