Gloucester into Challenge Cup final as they seek second trophy of season

Gloucester are into the Challenge Cup final for a fifth time after beating Italian team Benetton 40-23 at Kingsholm.

The Cherry and Whites will face Sharks at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday May 24 following the South African side’s nail-biting 32-31 win over French outfit Clermont in the first semi-final.

Gloucester won this competition in 2005/06 and 2014/15 and then finished runners-up in successive seasons in 2016/17 and 2017/18.

They have struggled in the Gallagher Premiership this term with 12 defeats and just four victories in 16 games to sit ahead of only winless Newcastle.

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But they are now eyeing a second title of the campaign after scooping the Premiership Rugby Cup in March with a 23-13 triumph over Leicester Tigers.

Hastings stars as Gloucester beat Benetton

Fly-half Adam Hastings was the architect of Gloucester’s triumph over Benetton, contributing 17 points through a try, three conversions and two penalties on his penultimate home appearance before rejoining Glasgow this summer.

Full-back Josh Hathaway, hooker Seb Blake, lock Freddie Clarke and wing Ollie Thorley also touched down, while scrum-half Caolan Englefield kicked a penalty 10 minutes from time.

Benetton, Challenge Cup semi-finalists last term, pushed Gloucester hard as hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi (2) and full-back Rhyno Smith scored tries.

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Sharks earlier booked their place in the final after a superb late comeback against Clermont in a thriller at The Stoop.

The Sharks were 31-18 down heading into the final quarter, only for converted tries from Vincent Koch and Makazole Mapimpi to turn the game around, with fly-half Siya Masuku producing the decisive kick after Mapimpi’s 71st-minute score.

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Source : Sky Sports

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