NEWCASTLE Eagles got their season off to the perfect start with an excellent home win over arch-rivals Glasgow Rocks at Sport Central last night, writes JEFF KING.

The Eagles defence was excellent all night and in the fourth quarter with the game still close, they produced 21 points in the last five minutes to finish off the Rocks in great style.

Ex-Mersey Tigers star and new Eagle Andy Thomson had a sensational debut, doing the simple things well to net 19 points but more impressively, a massive 17 rebounds.

However, he was not the only stand out. The returning ‘Mighty’ Joe Chapman showed he’s back to fitness and ready to roll with a team high 23 points.

Charles Smith also came back in style. He may be a year older but he’s still as smooth and his 20 points were achieved almost effortlessly.

In fact, it was a good all-round effort from the Eagles, whose other new boy – point guard Paul Gause – had a quiet first outing in a Newcastle vest, although late on showed he has plenty to offer head coach Fab Flournoy once he settles in.

Flournoy himself also showed that he’s back after last season’s serious illness with a solid and energetic display that helped spur his side on to a great victory. It puts them in in pole position in the their Trophy Group after one game.

The Rocks battled hard but other than BBL vet E J Harrison and backcourt partner Mychal Green they didn’t have a lot of weapons to throw at an Eagles defence that stood firm throughout the game.

Having said that, the game did not flow early as both teams struggled to turn training sessions in to effective game time.