EAGLES BOOK SPOT IN SHOWDOWN

THE Newcastle Eagles took down Sheffield Sharks in a SLB Trophy group game 94-89 on Friday night in the Vertu Arena to qualify for a two-legged semifinal showdown with Cheshire Phoenix in early January.

- Jeff King

The prize for winning that semifinal for the Eagles would be a trip to the Uililita Arena Birmingham on Sunday, February 1 for a chance to defend a trophy they won last season at the same venue against Bristol.

Cole Long who was part of that Trophy winning roster and who had an Eagles high of 16 points on Friday night, summed up what it means to the club to get back to the semifinal stage.

“It means everything.” he said. “It kind of shows the thoughts of being here this season and last season. ‘The ups and downs but you always pull it out in the big moments.”

‘And he continued by explaining the way the current team are starting to gel together by getting such a big win.

“Tt shows our growth. We had the early struggles with having a relatively new team. You have to work those things out.

“We have figured out each other a lot better.