Surprise as rising stars quit Eagles

NEWCASTLE Eagles tip off 2022 without two familiar faces following the surprise departures of Ebony Horton and Abby Lowe.

Both players want to represent England in the 3x3 tournament at this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. It has forced Newcastle boss Chris Bunten to focus on a future without two of Britain’s rising stars.

“We face Manchester this weekend with a smaller unit but this roster is fully committed and ready for the challenge,” he said.

“This is a group of players that wants to work with each other and for each other and I’m excited to see what we can achieve in the second half of the season.

“Like most teams we’ve experienced a few challenges in the last week or two with players testing positive for Covid and lastminute changes to flights.

“We’ll be missing Ebony and Abby this weekend but everyone else is back in the North East and available for the Mystics game.”

Bunten added of Horton and Lowe: “Both players are in contention for the Commonwealth Games and they’ve decided the time is right to move on.”

Lowe emerged as one of the standout stars of last season’s run to the WBBL Playoff final but minutes were at a premium during her second Eagles campaign.

Horton signed in the summer and leaves the Vertu Motors Arena as Newcastle’s top scorer.

Bunten’s blueprint for WBBL success this season centred on creating a core of hungry homegrown talent determined to prove the doubters wrong.

And even with the exits of Horton and Lowe, Newcastle still boast one of the most eye-catching rosters in the country.

Preparations for this month’s WBBL Cup final against London Lions are in full swing following an extended Christmas break.

And Bunten added: “Two players have decided to leave the club but my job is to focus on the players who are still here.

“It’s important to remember that there’s still a huge amount of talent on this team and there’s still a lot to play for this season.”

Newcastle fans will feel a sense of déjà vu just 12 months after Mante Kvederaviciute and Lisa Koop quit the Eagles mid-season.

But the Tynesiders battled on with a reduced roster and embarked on a memorable May Madness Playoff campaign.