COLCHESTER Gladiators are still looking for their first win of the season after their depleted side lost 49-27 at Solent Thrashers.

With some Gladiators players having to play both ways it was a big ask, particularly on the back of a three-and-a-half hour coach trip down to Southampton.

The fresher Thrashers out-lasted the Gladiators, shutting them out in the second half to claim an ultimately comfortable win.

Gladiators head coach Karl Bourke said: “We knew it was going to be a tough game against a tough opponent and I don't want to make excuses for the result.

The players played hard throughout with limited resources but we need to regroup, heal, get some players back and train hard this week before we try to get back to winning ways against the Kent Exiles.”

The Thrashers were first to score, midway through the first quarter and the extra point was kicked to give them the lead.

However, the Gladiators hit right back when QB Curtis Bourke, regaining some form after a poor first game, found wide receiver Byron Smith open and the sure-handed receiver completed a 32-yard pass play for six points.

Nathan Brown slotted the point after to make it 7-7.

Bourke threw his second touchdown pass minutes later when Andrew Cairns held on to a dart before shrugging of three would-be tacklers and racing all the way to the endzone for a 70-yard play.

Brown's kick was again good to give the Gladiators a 14-7 lead, as the second quarter began.

The Thrashers were mixing up their offence well and responded with another scoring drive to tie the score at 14-14.

But the visitors claimed back the lead when Bourke's third touchdown pass, a 45-yard completion allowed Tom Clarke to sprint down the sideline for the score.

Brown's extra point was good and the Gladiators led 21-14.

The shoot-out continued as half-time approached with the Thrashers tying the game again with a long pass from QB Dayle Greenfield to WR Joe Pascoe.

But the Gladiators responded with Chris Jackson getting on the end of Bourke's pass and rumbling in to the endzone to give Colchester a 27-21 half-time lead.

The Thrashers came out fighting in the third quarter, taking just five plays to tie the game on a short run.

The two point attempt failed but it was all to play for, at 27-27.

But from then on it was all Thrashers as the Gladiators could not get their running game going in the absence of Casey Campbell, despite new signing Eddie Collison's best efforts and some promising drives coming up short on fourth down attempts.

The Thrashers found great success with their short passing game and almost abandoned the run, save for some crucial scrambles by their mobile QB.

As the Colchester defence tired, the hosts padded the score in the fourth quarter with three unanswered touchdowns to give the result a lopsided look.

The Gladiators host the Kent Exiles on Sunday, where they will be looking for revenge after an opening-day defeat to the division's new boys.

The game takes place at Colchester Rugby Club, Mill Road, kick-off 2.30pm, with free admission.

Phoenix Allstar Twirlers will provide the half-time entertainment and Hannah Cabanas Kitchen providing wings, burgers, sausages, hot and cold drinks and other snacks.