Gloucester vs Cardiff Blues LIVE: European Challenge Cup final latest score and updates
Follow the latest from the European Challenge Cup final in Bilbao
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Your support makes all the difference.The European Challenge Cup final sees Premiership side Gloucester attempt to win the tournament for the third time, but a resurgent Cardiff Blues stand in their way at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao.
After seeing off Newcastle Falcons in their semi-final, Gloucester will feature in their third final in four years, having won the Challenge Cup back in 2015 in defeating Edinburgh before losing out to Stade Francais last year.
The Cherry & Whites ended their Premiership campaign last weekend in disappointment as they were heavily beaten by Saracens, which allowed rivals Bath to pinch sixth place off them and qualification for next season’s Champions Cup. However, given that Leinster and Racing 92 – the two Champions Cup finalists – have already qualified as well as Cardiff, Gloucester are guaranteed a place in next year’s tournament regardless of this result.
But while Gloucester finished their domestic campaign with a whimper, Cardiff are very much on the up. A landslide victory over the Southern Kings was followed by the Champions Cup semi-final win over Pau, and although rounded off the season with a narrow 26-23 defeat by the Ospreys, they were still able to claim one of the six automatic qualification berths for the Champions Cup.
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What time does it start?
The European Challenge Cup final kicks off at 20:00 BST [21:00 CET] on Friday 11 May.
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on BT Sport 2 from 19:15 BST and Sky Sports Action from 19:30 BST.
Teams
Gloucester: Jason Woodward; Tom Marshall, Billy Twelvetrees, Mark Atkinson, Henry Trinder; Billy Burns, Callum Braley; Josh Hohneck, James Hanson, John Afoa; Ed Slater, Mariano Galarza; Jake Polledri, Lewis Ludlow, Ruan Ackermann
Replacements: Motu Matu'u, Val Rapava Ruskin, Fraser Balmain, Freddie Clarke, Ben Morgan, Ben Vellacott, Andy Symons, Tom Hudson
Cardiff Blues: Gareth Anscombe; Owen Lane, Rey Lee-Lo, Willis Halaholo, Blaine Scully; Jarrod Evans, Tomos Williams; Rhys Gill, Kristian Dacey, Taufa'ao Filise; Seb Davies, Josh Turnbull; Josh Navidi, Ellis Jenkins, Nick Williams.
Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Brad Thyer, Scott Andrews, Damian Welch, Olly Robinson, Lloyd Williams, Garyn Smith, Matthew Morgan
Odds
Gloucester to win: 5/6
Cardiff Blues to win: 11/8
Draw (after 80 minutes): 25/1
55 mins: Cardiff have really come alive here. it's Evans this time who proves the creator as his chip down the blindside following a strong run from Halaholo allows replacement Garyn Smith to run onto the ball and score, and Evans' conversion gives the Blues a three point lead! 23-20
59 mins: That's the response Gloucester needed there. A poor clearance kick under pressure allowed the Cherry & Whites to set up a catch-and-drive, and hooker James Hanson proved to be the man at the back that burrows over for their third try of the match. Twelvetrees adds the conversion, and that's the last contribution from Hanson as Johan Ackermann changes his entire front-row with Val Rapava-Ruskin, Motu Matu'u and Fraser Balmain on. 23-27
63 mins: Ooph! Just as Anscombe goes to collect a high kick, he's nailed by Ludlow in a perfectly-timed hit that sends him flying backwards and dislodges the ball in the process. From the ensuing scrum, the new front-row win the penalty and Twelvetrees kicks the penalty to extend the lead. 23-30
70 mins: Frantic play as Cardiff go for broke, cough up possession yards from the Gloucester line and they attempt to counter, only to put the ball down on the edge of their 22. Luckily for them Garces is still playing advantage and comes back for the initial knock-on.
74 mins: This could be huge...Garces runs out of patience with three quick Gloucester infringements and he sends Ludlow to the sin-bin! The English side will have to hold out for the rest of the game with 14 men, but they pinch the five-metre lineout and Braley clears their lines, though it's a poor kick and keeps the pressure on.
76 mins: IT'S A TRY!
With the numbers on their side, the Blues work a two-man overlap and the ball is worked right to Blaine Scully, who dives over in the corner and keeps his feet in play to score. Crucially though, Anscombe MISSES the touchline conversion and Gloucester still lead by two points! 28-30
78 mins: Penalty to Cardiff! Anscombe chips over the top for Scully to run on to, and he hacks it forwards into the Gloucester 22. Marshall gets back to dive on it but is pinged for holding on and Anscombe gets a chance to put the Blues into the lead!
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