WNBL1 recap: 28/29 September - live streams, stats and more

The WNBL is underway once more, with a great selection of contests going ahead last weekend.

Endeavour Ipswich Basketball begin their regular season title defence with a win against Barking Abbey, whilst playoff champs CoLA got one over against Brent Bulls with a 60-55 victory.

The NBL Live cameras were also out and about to capture Cobham's first win in D1W as they beat Reading, 66-44.

We take a look back at all the weekend's action below.

Cobham Cobras (1-0) 66-44 Reading Rockets (0-1)

Cobham's first taste of top-flight action was a winning one, with the Cobras seeing off Reading Rockets 66-44.

Aiming to get a fast start to the new season, Cobham did just that and a 21-2 opening quarter set the tone for what would be a commanding victory.

The host's lead would flirt with the 20 point mark more than once, but as it went past that point early in the second half the difference would never drop back under it, providing the platform for a great opening day W.

Sophie Khalaf (14pts, 11reb), Amy Andrews (12pts) and Fran Quinn (11pts) did the bulk of the scoring for Cobham, with Katie Richards (8pts, 13reb) also going to work on the glass as the Surrey side won the rebound battle 61-33.

Running a seven player rotation, it was a long afternoon for the Rockets, who were led by Millie Day's 11 points and five rebounds, as Jade Blackburn chipped in another 11 points off the bench.

Both teams are back in action next weekend, with Cobham facing a tough trip to CoLA Southwark Pride, and Reading hosting Loughborough

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Elsewhere this weekend

Loughborough Riders (1-0) showed their intent for the new season with a gutsy come-from-behind win against Thames Valley Cavaliers (0-1), winning 78-70.

The Riders trailed by five at the half and used a 20-15 final quarter to win their opening game of the season, with Erin Caldwell (20pts, 4reb) impressing for the visitors to cancel out a huge 31 point, 13 rebound double-double from TVC's Kat Goldsby.

Worcester Wolves (0-1) were unable to copy Cobham and win their first D1W game following promotion, instead going down 70-47 against Manchester Mystics (1-0).

Irene Oboavwoduo (16pts, 8reb) and Rehana Khalil (12pts, 9reb, 4ast) did the damage for the visitors, who held the Wolves to just 24% shooting as they led that one from tip to buzzer.

The all-London battle between CoLA Southwark Pride (1-0) and Brent Bulls (0-1) went the way of CoLA, 60-55, who used a 17-11 opening quarter to provide the cushion needed to keep their noses in front, with new signing Chloe Vella picking up 14 points on debut for Pride.

That just left Endeavour Ipswich Basketball (1-0) to see off Barking Abbey (0-1), with Harriet Welham providing 30 points in the comfortable 85-50 victory.

Welham was the standout, but 21 points, 16 boards and five assists for Louisa Gibbins also helped the Ipswich cause.

Ipswich's Harriet Welham was in top form this weekend (David Devonport Photography)

SLB Trophy

D1W's Endeavour Ipswich Basketball made a winning start to Group D, coming out on top 104-80 against reigning EuroCup champs London Lions.

Harriet Welham stepped up to show her class at the next level, draining a game-high 31 points to give the Lions plenty of food for thought during their current recruitment drive.

Maddy Wormald (19pts, 5reb) and Kaiya Bateman (14pts) both played well in support, with Louisa Gibbins (11pts, 10reb) providing a useful double-double as the Copleston faithful celebrated a famous victory.

Former Thames Valley standout Chinwe Iwunze led the way for London, she had 19 points and six rebounds.

This weekend's results:

Saturday 28 September

1pm - Cobham Cobras 66-44 Reading Rockets - LIVE STATS / LIVE STREAM

4:30pm - Thames Valley Cavaliers 70-78 Loughborough Riders - LIVE STATS

5pm - Worcester Wolves 47-70 Manchester Mystics - LIVE STATS / LIVE STREAM

Sunday 29 September

3pm - Brent Bulls 55-60 CoLA Southwark Pride

3:30pm - Endeavour Ipswich Basketball 85-50 Barking Abbey - LIVE STATS

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Main image credit - Luke Simcock