KUTI'S Solent Stars made an impressive start to their match at Reading on Sunday, but their hopes of pulling off a shock win were scuppered by injuries.

First captain Ryan Payne and then influential American Earl Moore, pictured below, were forced to leave the court in a 111-76 English League Division 1 defeat.

Ironically, Rockets' most potent weapon was Ryan Williams, who had trained with Solent in pre-season. He dominated the scoring with an impressive personal tally of 46 points.

Reading had new signing Steve Vear from Worthing in their ranks and he showed his worth immediately by placing a pinpoint pass to Williams under the basket.

Solent had several shots rim out, but a three-pointer from Moore made it 7-7 before fellow American Antonio Bright put them into the lead.

Three-pointers from Moore and Ben Stanley followed and, when Moore was fouled, his two successful free throws put Stars eight points up.

But Williams, ably assisted by David Watts, brought Reading back to 28-28 at the close of the quarter.

A Stanley three restored Solent's lead, prompting Reading coach Dave Titmuss to call a time out.

Stars' offence began to stutter and, after a 24-second violation, they fell six points behind.

Even a time-out by Solent coach Kerry Kirby couldn't stop Rockets' momentum and, though Bright completed the first-half scoring with a fast-break slam dunk, by then Solent trailed 57-46.

Solent slowed the pace of the game to try and curb Reading's flow of points, but their cause was not helped when Darren Mason picked up his fourth foul.

Stars managed only three points in the first five minutes of the quarter before Payne fell awkwardly on his injured knee and had to bow out.

Any hope of a Solent comeback then dissolved when Moore took a knock on his hamstring and also had to go off court.

Payne also returned having put ice on his knee, but Solent's situation worsened when Bright was left exposed defensively and committed two quick fouls and fouled out for the second game running.

Moore came back on with three minutes to go but was unable to continue and, with the result no longer in doubt, both teams gave their bench players some court time in the last couple of minutes.

Coach Kirby summed up: "We didn't help ourselves. We looked good in the first quarter when we moved the ball on offence, but we stopped moving the ball and made it harder for ourselves. Then any chance we had was extinguished with the injuries to Ryan and Earl."

Reading Rockets 111 (28, 57, 82) Kuti's Solent Stars 76 (28, 46, 60) Solent scorers: A Bright 21, E Moore 20, B Stanley 15, C Milner 8, R Payne 6, D Mason 4, K Lawal 2.