Gloucester edge out Connacht 28-33 in tense European Rugby Challenge Cup quarter-final

Connacht 28-33 Gloucester Rugby, Sportsground
Scorecard

Gloucester Rugby managed to resist Connacht as they completed a 28-33 victory in the European Rugby Challenge Cup face-off at Sportsground on Saturday.

The first seven minutes saw James Hanson and Kieran Marmion exchange tries and eight minutes later the visitors lost Ben Morgan to sin-bin for a high tackle.

Bundee Aki capitalised on the numerical advantage as he crossed over in the 19th minute but his efforts were canceled out by Tom Marshall in the 26th minute.

As the first half was even with both teams on 10 points, Henry Trinder produced brilliance with his 37th minute touchdown and a conversion from Owen Williams saw Gloucester head into the break with a slender seven point lead.

Williams with his first penalty at the start of the second half extended Gloucester's lead to 10 points but a try from Niyi Adeolokun in the 45th minute followed by a penalty from Jack Carty reduced the gap to two points.

John Afoa on his 100th appearance for the Cherry and Whites scored the fourth try of Gloucester in the 55th minute as a conversion and a penalty from Williams restored a 12 point lead but their momentum was dented by a yellow-card to Lewis Ludlow.

Having an extra man, Connacht made the most of it with Matt Healy scoring a 70th minute try and the extras from Craig Ronaldson got the scoreline to 28-30 but they could not quite get past the line with a sin bin to Jarrad Butler. Instead, Billy Twelvetrees kicked a penalty to seal a five point win for Gloucester.