NEWCASTLE Eagles last night sent out a chilling message to their BBL title rivals after securing a superb 86-67 away win at early season pace-setters Sheffield Sharks.

Perhaps the most impressive part of the performance and result was that it was achieved without influential scorer ‘Prince’ Charles Smith, so many times a thorn in the side of Sheffield.

The injured veteran was barely missed as the Eagles cantered to victory thanks mainly to 30 points by shooting ace Joe Chapman.

As they have showed so many times before down the years, Fab Flournoy and his team are always at their most dangerous coming off the back of a defeat, and Sharks felt the full force of the backlash right from tip-off.

The Eagles raced out of the blocks to catch the previously unbeaten hosts cold as Chapman found his range early to send the visitors into overdrive.

He was the main architect of a sensational opening which saw the Eagles pour in 30 first-quarter points with a flurry of three-pointers, including one right on the first quarter buzzer by Andrew Bridge.

With the Sharks visibly stunned and losing their discipline, it was time to step on the gas and get the job done early.

Sensing blood, Flournoy helped pile more misery on his former club by scoring under the basket to extend the lead to a commanding 40-17.

When Bridge again converted from long range, it gave the Eagles their biggest lead of the game at 26 points as they began to consider going into cruise control before half-time had even arrived.

Defensively, the Eagles showed they had done their homework and with the dangerous Nate Reinking treated to some particularly close supervision.

The Great Britain guard wasn’t able to make his usual impact, he uncharacteristically turned the ball over five times.

In fact, Sharks crumbled completely under the defensive pressure. They spilled the ball an eye-watering 14 times during the first 20 minutes of action while in stark contrast, the Eagles players looked after it quite beautifully.

Maintaining the same level of intensity was always going to be difficult and so the 20-point cushion built up by the Eagles was crucial – especially with Sharks no doubt looking to make amends for their near-embarrassing total of just 27 points during the first half.

Perhaps predictably, the home team started strongly and eager desperate to bury the disappointment of their first-half horror show.

Heading into the last ten minutes of action, they managed to cut the gap to 12 points as Reinking dropped a big three-pointer in the last second.

However, the Eagles never looked to be in serious danger of losing despite foul trouble beginning to mount.

As soon as Andy Thomson stroked a three-pointer of his own to get the final quarter underway, it settled the nerves as the Eagles held firm to wrap up a terrific win.

While Chapman led the way, it was a real team effort by the Eagles with recent arrival Paul Gause shining.

The point guard finished last night’s with 20 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

NEWCASTLE: Chapman 30, Gause 20, Thomson 14

SHEFFIELD: Dobbins 18, Reinking 16, Tuck 15