Solent Stars 60 - Reading 82

COACHES Alan Cunningham and Steve Chant know that they have a huge task on their hands before the start of this season's National League Division 1 campaign.

Only seasoned players Marlin Capers, right, and Nick Oharabe were able to get on the Solent scoresheet by half-time in this friendly defeat at Fleming Park.

Despite that, Solent only trailed by six points at the interval playing against one last season's top three finishers in the National League.

It took another three minutes of the second half before newcomer Karl Mroch was fouled as he shot and scored one of his two free throws to become the third Solent scorer.

A late rally in the third quarter saw Solent come within eleven points of the Reading lead, but with Marlin Capers only playing a few minutes in the second half - still suffering from travel fatigue after his arrival in the country - Solent were not able to get any closer.

Reading ran in another eleven unanswered points at the start of the final quarter to put the result beyond doubt against Solent's inexperienced squad.

SCORERS: Marlin Capers 25, Nick Oharabe 20 Mark Jackson 4, Melvin Ojadi 4, Paul Silcox 2, Ollie Marsh 2, Phil Long 2, Karl Mroch 1.

Earlier, the second Solent men's team had overcome a six-point half-time deficit against Taunton Tigers to forge a 51-44 lead by the fourth minute of the third quarter.

Duane Laight (19 pts), Ryan Payne (13) and Jon Rumsey (11) were the main scorers as Solent fought hard to keep their lead.

Coach Mick Byrne gave all fourteen players in the squad court time to assess their potential.

Taunton, trailing by three points at the start of the last quarter, opened the final session with ten of the first 12 points scored.

Despite strenuous efforts by the hosts, Taunton were able to hang on for a 78-73 win.

The season's build-up continues next Saturday at Fleming Park when the second team play the pick of the British Police (6pm).