There was something of a Rebels reunion on home court as Reading Rockets arrived at the Essex Sports Arena on Saturday.

Any team with Zain Poorman and Victor Olarerin is going to be a little tasty.

Once a Reb, always a Reb, etc.

This was a weird watch, tbh. The Rebels men impressed on the last home court performance a couple of weeks ago. A couple of big name players from the demolition job over Bristol weren’t on the bench.

It can be a little frustrating trying to keep up with squad changes. Injuries, work, life etc get in the way.

You don’t want a running commentary of EVERYTHING that is taking place behind the scenes. Premier League football has become toxic with this level of demand coming from the fanbase.

But it would be good to know a line or two about where players are, having impressed so much in previous performances. Are they still at the club? If not, we wish them well…

Which all meant that it felt like the Rebs bench was a couple of big game players short. The home team didn’t play badly, but they couldn’t compete with the extra muscle coming from the Rockets.

Oh - and Victor Olarerin as well.

This was pretty much a one man show from the ex-Reb. He clocked up a bloody impressive 51 points alone.

Outstanding, and a pleasure to watch.

Rebels were always chasing the scoreboard. Three pointers were the option, rather than a slowly, slowly turning of the scoreboard with more reliable shots. The majority of these didn’t sink.

It was also a scrappy, physical tussle out on the court. Sometimes you want to see that. But when you’re lacking a little in muscle, then there’s only going to be one winner.

The Rebs chased the game in the third and fourth, never really out of it, but never really within a serious chance of catching up with Reading. Heads dropped a little in the final five minutes.

Hey hoe.

Onwards.

Another win for the Rebels women at Our House, aka the Essex Sports Arena. New flashy sporting structures take a little time to bed in. It feels already that Our House has found its identity.

This game was themed around Black History Month. The Rebs organisation does a bloody job in recognising significant events, and then planning gameday around the theme.

It’s not all deserved, progressive themes, that are likely to get Daily Mail readers frothing at the mouth. In the past we’ve celebrated sixty years of the University, international students, and, erm, retro basketball jerseys.

On the court and the Rebs women are transformed this season. It’s early days, but you can’t argue with a record of P5, W5. Some high scoring games have set a high bar for the long season ahead.

I’m not sure what’s changed tbh. Recruitment has been great over the summer months. But then again it looked as though a strong roster of superstars were drafted in twelve months ago.

Quietly, quietly, the team and Coach have gone about building a great team spirit, without the obvious outstanding superstar candidates.

No I in Team etc.

Whatever.

The Rebs got off to a lightening start in the first quarter. Job done, I thought.

The second quarter was a little slower, with the scoreboard not ticking over at the same pace. An injury to Claire Paxton benched her for the rest of the game.

Get well soon, Skip.

Rebels should have been away by now, leaving Caledonia with the long road trip back home. But somehow they drew the scores level.

Whoops.

This is a strong Rebs team though, that knows how to get the job done. Some creative running down of the clock got them over the line.

The celebrations at the end are becoming infectious. We’ve not always seen a happy Coach and team come the final buzzer.

Smiles were everywhere, as the players ran around the stand, high fiving the fans - a lovely touch.

Up the Rebs!