COLCHESTER GLADIATORS 0

SOLENT THRASHERS 39

British American Football Association National Leagues division one south

COLCHESTER Gladiators' poor season continued with a lacklustre performance against a solid Solent Thrashers team.

The Gladiators offence has struggled of late and was shut out for the second time this season, after they were beaten 39-0 at Mill Road.

With the defence also struggling, the Thrashers were able to dominate, opening large holes for their running backs to run through.

Their mobile quarterback was also able to avoid pressure and keep drives alive with his scrambling skills.

The Gladiators started with great field position when Chris Jackson returned the opening kick off 60 yards to the Solent 26.

But the Colchester offence could not make any progress and settled for a 43-yard field goal attempt.

Andrew Cairns' kick was blocked and that was as close as the Gladiators would come to scoring points.

Solent made no mistake with their second possession, taking nine plays to travel 51 yards, culminating with an eight-yard pass for six points. The PAT was blocked but the Thrashers led 6-0.

Following another Gladiators punt, the score was doubled early in the second quarter.

After an 11 play, 80-yard drive, Solent QB Dayle Greenfield's two scrambles led to first downs and a two-yard run completed the drive to make the score 12-0.

A nine-yard pass reception and two-point conversion took the score to 20-0 and another long drive, finishing on the last play of the half, a four-yard run, gave Thrashers a 26-0 half-time lead.

The third quarter began as the first half ended, with the Thrashers driving the ball for another score, as Greenfield ran in himself from 17 yards out.

The two-point pass play failed to leave the score 32-0.

The Gladiators picked up a couple of first downs through a Curtis Bourke run and a Jackson catch and an Andi Xheka catch took the ball to the Solent 35.

However, a fourth down pass was incomplete to turn the ball over.

The Thrashers made the Gladiators pay with another long drive for a touchdown and the extra point sealed Thrashers' victory.

A fumble recovery by Matt Thompson and a 30-yard run by Eddie Collison were the highlights for the Gladiators in the fourth quarter.

But they never threatened to trouble the scoreboard, slumping to their sixth defeat in seven matches.

The Gladiators next game is the return fixture against the winless Herts Cheetahs on Sunday at St Albans Rugby Club, kick-off 2.30pm.