SWINDON Shock were left with an unfamiliar taste in their mouth after this weekend’s game as they slipped to their first defeat of the season.

David Colclough’s side had enjoyed a perfect start to the National League Division Four season, but came up short against RCT Gladiators in a 101-91 defeat at Swindon New College.

The game started as an even affair as both sides tried to find some rhythm, but it was the second quarter which would prove most costly after leaking 31 points.

Despite their late rally, which included a 10-0 run in the third quarter, Swindon were unable to catch the visitors in the second half as the Rhondda-based side continued to sink baskets.

Chris Cole was the top scorer for the hosts with 21 points with Spencer Wells and Matt North trailing with 18 and 17 points apiece.

“We came up too flat, they jumped on us early and we didn’t really recover from there to be honest,” said Colclough.

“We started off fairly even in the first 10 minutes, but then once we made our substitutions in the second quarter we just had guys that weren’t playing defence.

“They had a guy who could just really shoot, then our guys started to get their heads down and bickering with each other.

“I tried to get us back together but they just kept scoring baskets, we went into a mode where we were trying to make things happen individually.”

Colclough also highlighted defensive frailties as the reason why his Shock side were unable to extend their perfect start.

“We knew it was a big game, they have players who have come down from Division One and Division Two so we knew it was going to be a challenge,” he added.

“Offensively we were ready for them, but defensively we weren’t so all the good work we did offensively was wiped out.”

Shock will look to return to winning ways this weekend at struggling Plymouth Rebels.