Cardiff and Gloucester reach Challenge Cup semis

Cardiff Blues and Gloucester each recorded impressive wins on the road to reach the European Challenge Cup semi-finals on Saturday.

The Blues ran out 20-6 winners at Edinburgh, condemning the Scottish franchise to a second successive quarter-final defeat in the competition.

A Jaco van der Walt penalty put Edinburgh ahead after 19 minutes, but Cardiff were in control by half-time thanks to converted tries from Ellis Jenkins and Blaine Scully.

Although Van Der Walt briefly narrowed the hosts’ deficit, there was to be no fightback and two Jarrod Evans penalties ensured the Blues, for whom Josh Navidi was outstanding, triumphed with a degree of comfort.

FULL TIME: @Cardiff_Blues secure the final place in our semi-finals with an impressive victory away from home. #ChallengeCupRugby pic.twitter.com/s0b07kqvtk

— Challenge Cup (@ERChallengeCup) March 31, 2018

Next up for Cardiff is a home clash with Pau in the last four, while Gloucester – two-time Challenge Cup winners and last year’s runners-up – will host Newcastle Falcons after beating Connacht 33-28.

Henry Trinder’s solo score was the pick of Gloucester’s five tries in Galway, where a late Connacht rally proved in vain.

#Winning pic.twitter.com/3xG6RDEvpg

— Gloucester Rugby (@gloucesterrugby) March 31, 2018

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