IT’S a busy weekend of sport with basketball and women’s football rejoining the agenda.
Reading Rockets had last weekend off but they face a double-header at Wokingham’s Bohunt School with games on both Saturday and Sunday evenings.
Captain Danny Carter is in line to return as Rockets host Worthing Thunder on Saturday in the league before Cardiff City come to Bohunt in the National Cup on Sunday (both 5pm).
READING WOMEN are also back in action after a lengthy international break.
The Royals, who sit fourth in FA WSL 1, travel to face Bristol City Women, who are level with Kelly Chambers’ side on four points.
WOKINGHAM, BINFIELD, WOODLEY, WARGRAVE and EVERSLEY women’s teams are also all in action on Sunday.
READING’S men’s side are back at the Madejski Stadium for the first time in a month, welcoming Middlesbrough in the Championship as they look to pull clear of the relegation zone.
PODCAST: Tom and Olly preview Reading’s big week at the Mad Stad
The visit of Boro is the first of two big home games for Jaap Stam’s men with Nottingham Forest the visitors on Tuesday evening.
Elsewhere on the football front, BINFIELD host Brackley Town Saints in the Hellenic Premier Division.
It is also a big day off the pitch for the Moles as Adam Afriyie, MP for Windsor, will be unveiling their new changing facilities and clubhouse before the match.
This has been an ongoing process after receiving grants from the Football Foundation as well as many other local schemes.
Also in the Hellenic Premier, WOODLEY UNITED are aiming for a third league win in a row when they travel to play Tuffley Rovers.
WOKINGHAM AND EMMBROOK will look to arrest their recent slump when they travel to Virginia Water in Hellenic Division One East.
Sumas are currently winless in four matches after their 5-1 loss to Mortimer in the Maidenhead and Norfolkian Senior Cup.
Combined Counties Division One leaders EVERSLEY AND CALIFORNIA travel to Cobham.
LONDON IRISH are back in Premiership action with a trip to leaders Saracens.
The Exiles have spent the last two weeks playing European rugby and enjoyed a brilliant 44-7 win away to Stade Français Paris last weekend to end a six game losing run.
PREVIEW: See our interview with Petrus du Plessis and team news ahead of Sarries clash
REDINGENSIANS RAMS host Barnstaple at Old Bath Road. The club have warned of that the car park will be particularly busy this weekend with three of their sides all playing at home.
CROWTHORNE will be looking for their first win of the campaign when they go to Chesham.
It is a reduced hockey fixture list but SONNING men are in action with a trip to Newbury and Thatcham.
BRACKNELL BEES face two games this weekend with a tricky National Cup trip to Swindon Wildcats on Saturday before welcoming London Raiders to The Hive on Sunday.
INTERVIEW: Scott Spearing warns Bees against complacency after seven league wins on the spin
FIXTURES (3pm unless stated)
Saturday October 28
FOOTBALL –
Sky Bet Championship
Reading v Middlesbrough
FA WSL 1
Bristol City Women v Reading Women (5.30pm)
Hellenic Premier Division
Binfield v Brackley Town Saints
Tuffley Rovers v Woodley United
Hellenic Division One East
Virginia Water v Wokingham and Emmbrook
Combined Counties Division One
Cobham v Eversley and California
Thames Valley Premier Division
Wokingham and Emmbrook Reserves v Taplow United (2pm)
Wright and Unity Sports v Woodley United Royals (2pm)
Thames Valley Division One
Burghfield v Finchampstead (2pm)
Reading Challenge Junior Cup
Hurst v Woodcote Stoke Row Reserves (2pm)
RUGBY –
Aviva Premiership
Saracens v London Irish
National League 2 South
Redingensians Rams v Barnstaple (2.30pm)
Berks, Bucks and Oxon Premier
Chesham v Crowthorne
HOCKEY –
MBBO Regional 2
Newbury and Thatcham v Sonning (12.30pm)
ICE HOCKEY –
National Cup
Swindon Wildcats v Bracknell Bees (6.15pm)
BASKETBALL –
NBL Division One
Reading Rockets v Worthing Thunder (5pm)
Sunday October 29
FOOTBALL –
Southern Women’s League Cup
Fleet Town Ladies v Woodley United Ladies (2pm)
Thames Valley Women’s League Cup
Binfield Ladies v Stanford Ladies (1.30pm)
Taplow Reds v Eversley and California Ladies (1.30pm)
Southern Women’s Division One North
Wargrave Ladies v Wokingham and Emmbrook Ladies (2pm)
ICE HOCKEY –
NIHL Division 1 South
Bracknell Bees v London Raiders (6pm)
BASKETBALL –
National Cup
Reading Rockets v Cardiff City (5pm)
Monday October 30
FOOTBALL –
Berks and Bucks Senior Cup
Beaconsfield Town v Woodley United (7.45pm)
Tuesday October 31
FOOTBALL –
Sky Bet Championship
Reading v Nottingham Forest (8pm)
Wednesday November 1
FOOTBALL –
Continental Tyres Cup
Reading Women v Watford Ladies (7.45pm)
