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Gloucester book Challenge Cup quarter-final spot with win over Castres
By PA
Gloucester reached the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup with a 30-25 victory against Castres at Kingsholm.
Julien Dumora wasted no time drawing first blood for the visitors with a try in the first minute converted by Pierre Popelin.
However, Gloucester pulled one back through Zach Mercer with Santiago Carreras adding the extras before winger Jonny May put them in front in the 27th minute and Carreras converted.
Max Llewellyn added another try just four minutes later with Carreras converting and although two Popelin penalties either side of half-time reduced Gloucester’s lead, Carreras soon restored their 14-point advantage with two penalty kicks of his own.
Castres threatened a late comeback in the 72nd minute with Loris Zarantonello scoring from a driving maul, with Popelin kicking the extras and after missing a drop goal two minutes later, Carreras kicked a penalty in the 79th minute.
The visitors kept pushing in the final stages with Josaia Raisuqe crossing in the 82nd minute but Popelin missed the conversion.
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Latest Comments
This would be great news for England, but I would have doubts about whether he deserves a hybrid contract. He's not as good as Feyi-Waboso or Freeman, and he might be behind Roebuck and Sleightholme in the pecking order. Behind them Hendy and Elliott are probably at a similar level to Arundell.
Go to commentsNothing to do with fair or unfair for me. Purely about results & the manner in which the ABs were losing. I was optimistic in 2020 but only 3 wins from 6 tests played soon dented that. By the time Schmidt & Ryan were recruited in 2022, the ABs & Foster were a laughing stock & their win rate was in the toilet. Thankfully Schmidt & Ryan helped turn the ABs fortunes somewhat.
The biggest issue I had with Cane as Skipper was his absence for nearly 50% of tests played. Through injury. Buck Shelford wrote an article on this very issue in 2021, suggesting Cane should relinquish the captaincy & concentrate on availability when fit.
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