SWINDON played host to Gloucestershire Premier Division side Cheltenham North in a friendly, but were defeated 25-15.

With the visitors riding high two divisions above the Greenbridge Road club, a tough encounter was expected and the game did not disappoint.

Swindon started brightly and got themselves on the scoresheet within the first 10 minutes.

Flanker Paul Daniels took a quick tap and fed full-back Nathan Waite, who drew his man and fed wing Nathan Warren who sprinted the final 20m to score in the corner.

North Cheltenham responded with a penalty before Swindon scored again through winger Jamie Whatcott, who collected Waite's grubber kick after the full-back had gathered Stuart Cock's long crosskick.

Swindon grabbed further control as second row Nick Warren dummied his way under the posts.

But in the final 20 minutes, Cheltenham scored three tries through their forwards to take them into the lead by three points.

Deep into injury time, Swindon decided to run a penalty from their own 22, but a wayward pass found its way to an opponent, who added a fourth try for the visitors.