Sharks to tackle Gloucester for Euro title

05/05/2024 04:30 AM

The Sharks will make history when they face English club Gloucester in the Challenge Cup final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in three weeks' time.

John Plumtree's charges became the first South African team to reach the showpiece of a traditionally European club competition as they fought back to beat Clermont Auvergne 32-31 in London on Saturday. In the second semi-final, Gloucester did enough to hold off Benetton 40-23 at Kingsholm Stadium.

The Sharks and Gloucester will lock horns on 24 May, the evening before the Champions Cup final at the same venue.

In Gloucester, the hosts quickly took control in the set pieces and jumped into an early lead with tries by fullback Josh Hathaway and hooker Seb Blake.

In a game in which both teams looked better on attack than in defence, each time Benetton cut the gap, a Gloucester outfit including former Lions loose forward Ruan Ackermann hit back to restore the two-score cushion.

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For the home team, flyhalf Adam Hastings, who also kicked 13 points, touched down twice and lock Freddie Clarke galloped 50 metres to score from an interception.

Gianmarco Lucchesi came on at hooker for Treviso at half time and touched down twice. SA playmaker Rhyno Smith also scored a try. Tomas Albornoz kicked eight points.

Gloucester sit second from bottom in the English Premiership, but won the Premiership Cup in March and have reached their fifth final in the second-tier Challenge Cup.

“It's outstanding. After a really tough season to reach the final shows we can still fight,” No 8 Zach Mercer said.

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: @gloucesterrugby/Twitter

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