The Wrap

Five teams made the perfect start to the new season with victories on the opening weekend.

Sevenoaks Suns, Cardiff Met Archers, Leicester Riders, Manchester Mystics and Sheffield Hatters were all successful with four of the five wins coming away from home.

 

Dee Hayward top scored with 15 points as Riders were emphatic 35-61 victors away at BA London Lions – much to the delight of new play-caller, Krumesh Patel.

“I’m happy with the steady start the team made,” he said.

“We were good in both parts of the transition game and didn’t let up.

“We still have strides to take, but it was a good starting point with certain parts to improve and make consistent.

“We have set a good tone for the season and this is something we want to continue to grow throughout.”

There was a repeat of last season’s Play-Off Final with the same outcome as Sevenoaks Suns claimed a 52-59 triumph over Nottingham Wildcats as Cat Carr led the way with 22 points and 11 rebounds.

League newcomers, Durham Palatinates, received a baptism of fire as they crashed at Sheffield Hatters in a 92-37 defeat with Krizstina Velkey putting up 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

Helen Naylor had 17 with Gianna Woods adding 16 points and 12 boards, while the visitors were led by Nicolette Fong Lyew Quee’s 24-point haul.

Cardiff Met Archers opened with a 42-68 victory on the road at Oaklands Wolves behind 25 points from Merissa Quick, while Stef Collins dished out 11 assists.

 

Meanwhile, Manchester Mystics held off Team Northumbria for a 74-79 win in an entertaining opener in the North-East.

Georgia Jones starred with 19 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists in the win to counter an 18-point haul from her GB Senior team-mate, Chantelle Handy – who was making a WBBL debut.