Oaklands Wolves coach Lee Ryan is ready for a tough test as his side host Super League Basketball Women's title favourites Caledonia Gladiators.

"Caledonia are the leading programme going into this years SLB competition, a really strong organisation and flying the flag for the UK in FIBA Eurocup for a second year running" said Ryan ahead of Saturday's clash.

"They have our respect and admiration for what they are doing, especially with a strong Scottish core to the team.

"It won’t stop us preparing to beat them, the players are locked in and focused on the game and making sure we leave it all out there before the international break.

"The game is going to be a tough one and we will need the crowd there to give us the support we need to get the win."

The Scottish club finished second in the league behind a dominant London Lions team in each of the last two seasons, but with Lions having drastically cut back their expenditure this season, Caledonia are expected to challenge for honours.

After qualifying for the SLB Trophy semi-final with victories against Durham and Newcastle, Gladiators were shocked in their opening league game as they went down 86-76 at Leicester Rider on Sunday. 

Tickets are available for the game at www.oaklandsbasketball.com, tip-off at 7pm.

It was a disappointing weekend for Wolves men as the first team went out of the National Cup with a 100-83 loss at Essex Charge and the second team lost 83-71 at Bedford Hoopers.

Liam Jefferson's side never recovered from a 31-11 first period in Colchester despite outscoring the hosts during the rest of the game.

A 25-21 second period save the deficit cut to 16 at half-time before the teams shared 44 third period points and Charge edged the final frame 26-25.

Lore Adekeye led Wolves' scoring with 16 points, while La'Quarne Sayles, Gavin Mitchell and Dan Kostadinov all finished with 15.

In contrast Sayles'' team were only four down at the final break but were outscored 26-18 in the fourth quarter as they lost in Bedford.

Wolves led 27-26 at the first break, but the hosts edged the second quarter 15-13 and the third 16-13 before extending their advantage in the fourth quarter.

There were big home wins for both Wolves U16 teams as the boys destroyed Southend Scorpions 120-40 while the girls continued their perfect start to the season with a 72-51 victory against Northants Lightning.

Michael Ball's team never looked back after a 20-9 first period and the game was as good as over by half-time as the hosts led 50-14.

They didn't let up, with a 33-10 quarter period before a 37-16 final stanza completed their biggest win of the campaign.

Captain Otis Lau-Johnston led Wolves with 21 points, seven rebounds and six steals, while Sam McCree added 17 points and seven boards.

Liam Schertel finished with a 16 point, 12 rebound double-double while Titouan Vimeux added six steals to his 14 points as all 12 Wolves got on the scoresheet. 

Eunice Wong scored Wolves' first eight points of the game against Lightning, capping the run with a triple, before Jane Yu hit back-to-back threes to help Wolves lead 21-17 at the first break. 

A 19-12 second quarter put Wolves firmly in charge and they never looked back with a 15-12 third period before wrapping things up with a 17-10 final frame.

Meryem Kuscuoglu hit a pair of treys in her team-high 15 points, with Wong and Daisy Golan adding 14 each and Yu eight.

In contrast all three U14 teams suffered defeats on the road.

The boys premier team found London refereeing again somewhat erratic as they went down 88-79 at Newham Youngbloods, while the boys conference side lost 77-45 at Aylesbury and the girls were defeated 70-23 at Solent Kestrels.

George Walker's side trailed 22-16 at the end of the first period at Newham but fought back to lead 43-42 at half-time.

Newham fought back to lead 65-58 at the final break, and with leading scorer fouling out with three minutes remaining, Wolves were unable to close the gap down the stretch. 

Edrupt had another big game with 39 points, while Thomas Starkey added 11 and Harry Regan 10.

The U14 conference side trailed 40-16 at half-time before cutting the deficit to 54-36 at the final break but that was as good as it got for Wolves as they were outscored 23-9 in the final period.

The long trip to Southampton ended in disappointment for Beth Sarson's girls as they never recovered from a 17-3 first period deficit.

Lois Levenston led the visitors' scoring with 11.

The U12 girls had a tough first home game as they went down 70-24 against Reading Rockets while the U12B boys lost 76-38 at Enfield Scorpions.