Cardiff Blues set up Challenge Cup final with Gloucester after beating Pau 16-10

Cardiff Blues 16 - 10 Pau, Cardiff Arms Park

Cardiff Blues managed to hold off Pau in the European Rugby Challenge Cup semi-final at Cardiff Arms Park with a 16-10 victory to set up a final clash with Gloucester Rugby at San Mamés Stadium on 11th May.

The Welsh side got off to a terrific start when Seb Davies breached the defence of Pau early in the game and finally offloaded to Gareth Anscombe for the opening try that came in the 6th minute. Fly-half Jarrod Evans slotted the conversion as they took a 7-0 lead.

Tom Taylor had a chance to get Pau off the mark but missed a penalty in the 18th minute. However, two minutes later, Conrad Smith dotted down for the visitors and the score became levelled at 7-7 with Taylor kicking the extras.

After Taylor and Evans traded penalties, the latter went on to kick another three-pointer as the first half ended with a slender three-point lead for Cardiff Blues.

Pau showed a better intent in the second half and as a result, were awarded penalties but they could not capitalise on it once again with this time scrum-half ThibaultDaubagna kicking it wide. With the Top 14 side unable to grab their chance, a long-range penalty kick from Evans in the 74th minute saw Cardiff Blues complete a 16-10 victory.

Blues head coach Danny Wilson was delighted with the performance but is wary of facing Gloucester in the all-important final," he told to BBC Wales.

"I think we will go there as underdogs the way Gloucester have been in form and watching them last night they were outstanding.

"They are a side with big line-speed in defence and they're a quality outfit, well coached and well drilled, so we will have to be on top of our game.

"It's cup rugby, it's a final, anything can happen and we'll go there with confidence."