SWINDON players were left feeling blue after they suffered their first defeat of the season on Saturday.

The Greenbridge Road side travelled to Newbury Blues high on confidence after an unbeaten start had propelled them to the top of the South West One East table.

The hosts also went into the game without defeat and, after a tight first half which finished 8-6 to Swindon, Newbury dominated after the break and pulled away to score a bonus-point 34-15 win.

Swindon scored the only try of the first half when they ran at Newbury’s defence sending the ball through their backs to break the host’s defence and make the 50 yards to score wide out on the left.

The visitors switched off for a 15-minute period in the second half and a brace from Josh Bartlett added to tries from Dan Thorne and substitute Edward David wrapped up all the points to move Newbury second behind Chippenham.

“We were confident heading into the game but there are a couple of factors that came into it, I don’t think we were good enough to take the points,” said skipper Adam Westall.

“A certain refereeing style, that we found bemusing at times, didn’t help the cause either.

“We were pretty much in it in the first half; I think we went in 8-6 down at half time so they hadn’t got away from us.

“In the second half we came unstuck for a 15-minute period and that put the game beyond our reach really.

“I think it comes down to individual mistakes all the way through the team and we didn’t make our tackles.

“The Newbury side didn’t play a type of rugby that was new to us and that we couldn’t deal with but we just weren’t good enough on the day.

“They were pretty organised and are a pretty strong side up front which guaranteed them set piece ball which is something we kind of struggle with and we are working hard to get that right.

“In their backs there was nothing there that I was particularly surprised with.”

Swindon will now want a big response and a return to winning ways when they return to Greenbridge Road on Saturday to take on Reading.

“We’re going to lose games this season, to go away to Newbury and get beaten is by the by now,” added Westall.

“I am expecting to get back into training and I think we’ll knock a few chunks out of each other and get ready for next weekend.

“I am expecting nothing but a big reaction from the players when Reading come to us.”

Supermarine's tough start to the season continued as they lost 92-0 at Sherborne.

Sean Millwaters’ side are the most put-upon side in Southern Counties South having conceded 190 in their first three games. However courtesy of their two bonus points, the South Marston side are eighth in the table.

Sherborne are one of the league’s top sides and Marine will feel they have better days to come as they look to extend their stay in Southern Counties South beyond one season.

The local derby between Cricklade and Minety in Dorset & Wilts One saw the men from Minety run out winners.

A late rally appeared to have the Cricklade back in the match but ther visitors were ruthless in adding a late try to seal the win.