Glory bid ends in defeat – but it's a season to be proud of

IT WAS five and out for head coach Chloe Gaynor and her Eagles players at Sheffield yesterday.

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It was the fifth time the Eagles had faced the Sheffield Hatters this season and the fifth loss to an excellent side.

It meant a season-ending defeat for the Eagles in difficult and disappointing circumstances as their dream of making a second successive top-flight play-off final were shot down by a red-hot Hatters side that exploded almost from the off.

But there can be no recriminations for Newcastle, who have had a fabulous season, with a third-place finish and a place in the play-off semi final.

Gaynor's team have battled adversity all season, rising to any challenge with determination, resilience and togetherness.

However, it ended in a way that will disappoint Gaynor and her players as they simply could not stop a well-oiled and explosive Sheffield side that dominated at both ends of the court throughout the contest.