Basketball: Glasgow Rocks 84 Newcastle Eagles 104

Monday 8 October 2012

Hoops reigned in the east end of Glasgow yesterday but it was not exclusively the handiwork of Georgios Samaras.

Glasgow Rocks played their first match inside the Emirates Arena in front of over 5000 fans. Picture: Jamie Simpson

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Mark Woods

A new dawn for Scottish sport began as the shiny new Emirates Arena threw open its doors to public and athletes alike, the centrepiece of what is hoped will be a legacy of modernisation from the Commonwealth Games in two years.

Temporary traffic bedlam ensued as the throngs exited from Celtic Park while smaller but no less significant crowds were flocking across the street to see Glasgow Rocks christen their new home. Enticed in by curiosity, and perhaps also the ubiquitous cheerleaders, the British Basketball League club were forced to delay the tip-off as the crowd swelled beyond anything they had been able to attract to their former abodes of Meadowbank, Braehead and the Kelvin Hall. For those seeking to justify the £113m invested in this complex, more than 5000 spectators filling up the blue and yellow seats were an early down payment on their faith.One of many. The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome is already open for business with a stream of cyclists whizzing around its banks to break in the hardwood. In the secondary sports hall, games of volleyball and netball were in full flow as Glasgow's teams migrate to this grand place. Athletics and more besides will soon follow in the months to come. But it is the Rocks who will be the Arena's most frequent tenant.Facing Newcastle Eagles, their regular nemesis over the past decade, the hosts fell short, losing 106-84, but there was enough drama to enthuse the uninitiated. Newcastle are the reigning champions, and the undefeated side were always likely to provide the toughest foe. But Sterling Davis' men fluffed their lines with a late collapse that suggested that they are again unlikely to contend for silverware this term.In the opening quarter, the lead went back and forth six times with Kieron Achara, whose last competitive game was for Great Britain in their sole victory at the Olympic Games, heading the hosts' assault. The Stirling-born forward, on a short-term deal, will likely depart this week for foreign shores but he seemed determined to leave an impression as he produced a haul of 18 points and 14 rebounds.So, too, did Donald Robinson, the team's newest American recruit, who sparked a run of nine straight points that pushed Glasgow ahead. But just as he was illuminating the court, the arena was plunged into darkness as the lights went out. It would have been surprising if there had not been the odd opening night glitch but it was still an embarrassing incident.When the lights came back on, the Rocks maintained their momentum as Andy Wedemire extended the advantage to 38-25 midway through the second period. Yet, gradually and ruthlessly, Newcastle fought back.Kareem Maddox sparked a run of eight straight points that cut the deficit to 42-38 at half-time. Then, in the fourth period, the Eagles flew out of reach after Maddox had given his team a 66-65 cushion at the end of the third. A 12-2 run broke Glasgow's resistance but they will hope the crowds that filed out had seen enough to come back time and again.

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Basketball: Glasgow Rocks 84 Newcastle Eagles 104

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