A SICKENING injury to Swindon youngster John Singfield overshadowed Swindon St George’s 42-22 defeat to Cheltenham Phoenix in the West of England Cup.

Singfield made a typically robust tackle 32 minutes into the second half, but the momentum of the challenge which brought the full weight of the Cheltenham player on top of him, leaving him with a badly broken ankle and the game held up while an ambulance was called.

The last 10 minutes of the match were played on the adjoining American Football pitch, with Cheltenham running in two final tries to clinch the tie.

It had all started well for Swindon, who opened the scoring with a flowing try on the left and they held the lead for eight minutes until Cheltenham equalised and two minutes later took the lead, both tries being converted.

St George hit back with a short-range effort under the sticks and added the extras but Phoenix had the last laugh in a thoroughly entertaining first period by scoring a six-pointer just before the break, giving them a half-time lead of 16-10.

Swindon started the second half well, regaining the lead but from that point on Cheltenham took control, adding two more tries before the enforced break.

Joe Zaric fished off as top scorer for Swindon with two well-taken tries Swindon coach Richard White said: “We were without six or seven of our top players, so that level of performance against a top side shows what strength in depth we are developing.

“At times we reverted to a one-man ‘union’ orientated game and struggled, but when we played our disciplined, drilled league style we looked much better.’’ St George travel to Bristol on Saturday.