Jason Woodward presses England claims as Gloucester advance to Challenge Cup final

Gloucester advanced to their third Challenge Cup final in four years as a combination of a dominant scrum and some sparkling strike moves, mainly orchestrated by full back Jason Woodward, proved too much for Newcastle.

A trophy and a return to Champions Cup rugby would represent a very decent return for Johan Ackermann in his first season as head coach. They retain an outside chance of qualifying for the Premiership play-offs, but will be assured Champions Cup qualification if Cardiff Blues win the second semi-final on Saturday against Pau. 

Gloucester pulverised Newcastle up front. Tighthead prop Fraser Balmain was enjoying himself right up until he dislocated a finger. On came John Afoa to inflict more punishment on the Newcastle scrum. 

At times, Gloucester backs failed to make the most of this platform but when they got it right in the tries scored by Tom Marshall, Billy Burns and Ben Vellacott it was glorious to watch.

Woodward continued his fine end-of-season form creating a pair of tries in a performance that may pique the interest of England head coach Eddie Jones.

With the honourable exception of flanker Evan Olmstead, Newcastle seemed disinterested, perhaps with one eye on their monumental match against Leicester next week, but still used their maul to great effect with hooker Scott Lawson twice going over against his former club. 

Mauls rarely produce tries of great beauty but Newcastle’s opening score was picture perfect, a caravan of straight backs splintered the Gloucester defence, Gary Graham snarling at the front and Scott Lawson trucking it up over the line. 

Gloucester were struggling to find their rhythm as they frequently coughed up possession just as they were manoeuvring themselves into dangerous positions. They only time they did any damage in the opening quarter was when full back Jason Woodward was driven into French referee Pascal Gauzere.

Eventually it clicked for the home side. A dominant scrum had the Newcastle scrum in reverse to the point where Gauzere was about to blow for a penalty when Gloucester decided to spread the ball. Hitting the line at speed, Woodward breezed through two tackles and with options either side fed Tom Marshall on his inside.

Billy Twelvetrees missed the conversion but made amends with a penalty soon after after good work by Jake Polledri. Gloucester supporters thought they were celebrating a second try after a series of close range pick and goes but Gauzere had blown instead for Evan Olmstead’s breakdown work.

Yet in the final play of the half Billy Burns kicked to the corner and Motu Matu’u finished over a huge maul to put Gloucester up 15-5.

By 47 minutes, Gloucester could start planning for Bilbao. Again the move came from the set piece, this time a lineout on the halfway line. Marshall was tackled but able to pop the ball up for Burns to run straight through an unguarded ruck. 

Though limited in their general play, Newcastle’s maul was still a mighty fine weapon and Lawson again popped up as the scorer to create a frisson of interest. A pair of Tweletrees penalty eased the nerves before a sumptuous Woodward offload created the fourth try for Vellacott. 

9:39PM

Woodward and Polledri's thoughts

JW: "Pretty excited [about the final]. We got the job done. We've played them three times and knew they would be physical and that we would have to be on our game."

JP: "They came out firing but luckily Billy brought his kicking boots. We're excited to get to Bilbao and the result shows that we have here is working on."

9:34PM

FULL-TIME: Gloucester 33-12 Newcastle

Ball booted into touch - it's all over. Gloucester are off to sunny Spain to face one of Cardiff Blues or Pau.

Newcastle started really well but failed to get enough points on the board to keep Gloucester and the crowd quiet. Slater, Polledri and Woodward all outstanding tonight.

9:30PM

78 mins - Gloucester 33-12 Newcastle

Newcastle know it's over, as Kibirige is bundled into touch. Woodward deservedly named man of the match.

9:28PM

TRY VELLAVOTT! CONVERSION TWELVETREES! Gloucester 33-12 Newcastle

Pack your bags Gloucester fans, you're off to Bilbao. From a turnover Gloucester get outside the defence of the left, Woodward beating his man and offloading inside to Vellacott who races away to score. It's been an emphatic second half.

9:25PM

74 mins - Gloucester 26-12 Newcastle

Kitchen sink time for Newcastle, Radwan adding some pace off the bench. Ball goes to ground, Kibirige's bouncing chip then not coming off but Newcastle get a scrum. Trinder heading off.

9:22PM

PENALTY TWELVETREES! Gloucester 26-12 Newcastle

14-point advantage for Gloucester into the final few minutes. Falcons lineout near halfway... stolen! But then Gloucester go off their feet. Hodgson kicks to touch.

9:19PM

66 mins - Gloucester 23-12 Newcastle

This is better from the Falcons, getting another ruck penalty. Into the corner... but Gloucester counter! Nearly a breakout score before Braley gets swamped. Penalty Gloucester for offside, but no card? Not even sure Socino was offside at all. Twelvetrees can take the three.

9:15PM

63 mins - Gloucester 23-12 Newcastle

Olmstead, not for the first time, wins a Newcastle penalty. He's been impressive this evening. A dozen points down, the Falcons need to get going.

9:11PM

Burns' solo try

9:10PM

PENALTY TWELVETREES! Gloucester 23-12 Newcastle

Bit of breathing room for Gloucester as Twelvetrees adds three more.

9:09PM

57 mins - Gloucester 20-12 Newcastle

Back come Gloucester, Harris penalised this time for not releasing just short of his own line. Gloucester will sensibly take a shot.

9:05PM

TRY LAWSON! CONVERSION HODGSON! Gloucester 20-12 Newcastle

Not so fast. Another solid maul by the Falcons ends up with Lawson grabbing a second try. Hodgson converts, as Lawson departs.

8:58PM

TRY BURNS! Gloucester 20-5 Newcastle

Huge score for the Cherry and Whites! Burns is put away and canters through a gap by the ruck, arm raised in the air as he sprints to the line. Huge advantage.

8:55PM

46 mins - Gloucester 15-5 Newcastle

Woodward so lively. Another break from the ex-Hurricane has the Falcons scrambling, Harris putting in a big tackle to get Woodward into touch. Newcastle take the lineout and clear through Hodgson.

8:52PM

43 mins - Gloucester 15-5 Newcastle

All a bit cagey, Young's box kick well fielded by Woodwards. Lost by Atkinson though, Newcastle's ball. Poor pass though by Mermoz leads to Harris being dragged into touch.

8:49PM

Second half underway

Gloucester 40 minutes away from Bilbao. Newcastle restart, fielded deep before Braley clears with a box kick.

8:33PM

HALF-TIME: Gloucester 15-5 Newcastle

Gloucester's maul creeping gradually forward... and scoring! Matu'u at the bottom of the pile and Gloucester have a second try. Johan Ackermann will have enjoyed that.

Twelvetrees adds the extras to give the hosts a ten-point cushion at the break. They've deserved it too after that early pressure by the Falcons.

8:30PM

40 mins - Gloucester 8-5 Newcastle

Gloucester with the maul, another penalty coming. They'll go back into the corner.

8:29PM

40 mins - Gloucester 8-5 Newcastle

Young clears, one last chance for Gloucester... Newcastle pinged for not rolling away. Gloucester can go to touch and take the lineout.

8:28PM

39 mins - Gloucester 8-5 Newcastle

Big Gloucester scrum earns a penalty! They go to touch, no maul, Atkinson carrying up. Then Matu'u. Twelvetrees now, five metres out. Morgan through the middle. This is good from Gloucester.

Polledri goes close! But it's a Falcons penalty for holding on. Great play by Olmstead. Newcastle can clear with a minute to go until the break.

8:25PM

37 mins - Gloucester 8-5 Newcastle

Drops all round at the moment. Kibirige this time on an inside ball by Matavesi. Gloucester's turn to have a scrum.

8:24PM

35 mins - Gloucester 8-5 Newcastle

Ball lost by Matavesi in the tackle, but it's billed as a Gloucester knock-on. That'll give the Falcons an attacking scrum. Looked like a swinging arm by Atkinson but no penalty. 

8:22PM

33 mins - Gloucester 8-5 Newcastle

Afoa now on for Balmain, a bit earlier than Gloucester would have planned. Newcastle trying to build around halfway but going nowhere really. Gloucester looking comfortable.

8:18PM

29 mins - Gloucester 8-5 Newcastle

Quick pause as Balmain gets a finger popped back in. Newcastle with a lineout as Young kicks high. Braley replies with another high one, taken by Young who avoids being held up. Gloucester then force a knock-on by Lockwood.

8:14PM

That Gloucester try

8:14PM

PENALTY TWELVETREES! Gloucester 8-5 Newcastle

And having weathered the storm, Gloucester now lead after Newcastle are pinged for not releasing. Good strike by Twelvetrees.

8:08PM

TRY MARSHALL! Gloucester 5-5 Newcastle

Excellent score against the run of play! Big shove from the home scrum, and they create the space out wide on the left as Woodward slips a tackle to break, before feeding Marshall inside. Well-worked. Twelvetrees can't convert.

8:05PM

18 mins - Gloucester 0-5 Newcastle

Falcons building in Gloucester's half, they've dominated territory. Knock on this time by Matavesi. Scrappy stuff.

8:04PM

16 mins - Gloucester 0-5 Newcastle

Cleared by Newcastle... and the referee is down! Gauzere might have injured himself here, that looked nasty, a knock to the side of his knee. He's going to carry on, tough as nails. Gloucester had knocked on, so it's a scrum.

8:00PM

15 mins - Gloucester 0-5 Newcastle

Off the lineout Twelvetrees puts in a nice step, Gloucester now 40 metres out. Slater with a run until Matu'u knocks on. Falcons scrum in their half.

7:59PM

13 mins - Gloucester 0-5 Newcastle

Good run by Burrows gets Newcastle moving. Sharp kick behind then has Gloucester scrambling but Woodward does well mopping up, allowing Gloucester to compose themselves and win a penalty for a high tackle by Graham. Burns will clear.

7:57PM

Newcastle's opening score

7:57PM

11 mins - Gloucester 0-5 Newcastle

How do the hosts respond. Lineout for Glos on the far side, working the ball left after a run from Polledri. Falcons standing off the ruck, not committing numbers. Atkinson knocks on in the tackle.

7:55PM

TRY LAWSON! Gloucester 0-5 Newcastle

That's a better maul! Stalls initially but once Gloucester lose bodies, Falcons get the maul driving forward and Lawson works hard to ground the ball despite the tackle from Morgan. Hodgson can't convert, pulling it to the left.

7:53PM

7 mins - Gloucester 0-0 Newcastle

Catch and drive from the Falcons. Good counter drive though by Glos, but that's a penalty for collapsing. Newcastle go back to the corner.

7:52PM

6 mins - Gloucester 0-0 Newcastle 

An upfield hoof from Twelvetrees gives Gloucester some territory. Couple of kicks before Young gathers a chip and is tackled in the air. Penalty coming Newcastle's way. Put into touch by Hodgson.

7:49PM

4 mins - Gloucester 0-0 Newcastle 

Scrappy lineout but Newcastle have possession. Lots of action for Harris, normally at centre but out on the wing this evening. Up to the Gloucester 22.

Numbers out wide but Hammersley cuts back infield. 15 plus phases now for Newcastle before the ball is lost forward by Harris. Promising signs though for the Falcons.

7:47PM

2 mins - Gloucester 0-0 Newcastle

High kick from Braley comes back Gloucester's way, but Newcastle win a ruck penalty through Olmstead. Hodgson puts it in touch.

7:46PM

Kick-off!

Burns with the honours for Gloucester. Deep, fielded by Graham. Young, the captain, clears with a box kick. Partially charged down but regathered by Matavesi, who breaks before flinging an offload infield to a Gloucester player. Hosts start in their half.

7:44PM

Teams in the tunnel

Pink tonight for Gloucester, green and white for the Falcons. Their usual kits presumably unavailable...

7:42PM

Plenty of sun on Kingsholm

Looks a picture doesn't it. Bilbao awaits, remember, for whoever triumphs this evening.

7:27PM

Golden Graham

Toby Flood, a guest tonight on BT Sport, has given an inside into Newcastle back-row Gary Graham, who Charlie Morgan analysed earlier this week.

7:24PM

Interview with Ed Slater

The Gloucester captain spoke to Mick Cleary earlier this week about his move from Leicester.

7:20PM

Teams are as follows

7:19PM

Welcome

Evening everybody, the calendar might say April but it will feel more like a summer scorcher at Kingsholm this evening as Gloucester and Newcastle go for a spot in the final. 

Some background on the two sides:

• This will be the first time the clubs have met in the Challenge Cup despite having played a combined 196 games in the competition.

• Gloucester have won five of their last six games against Aviva Premiership opposition (L1), while Newcastle have lost five of their last six such games (W1).

• The Cherry and Whites are in the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup for the fifth time, and for the third time in the last four seasons. 

• Newcastle have reached the Challenge Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2008 and for the fifth time overall. They’ve lost all four to date.

• Newcastle are one of two clubs with a 100% win rate this season (along with Pau); Gloucester were the last side to win all their matches on their way to lifting the trophy in 2014/15.

• Newcastle have scored 10 tries this season originating from a successful turnover, more than any other side, while Gloucester have scored the second most (7, level with Agen).

• The Falcons have missed fewer tackles per game than any other side this season (12.7) and as a result boast the best tackle success rate (91%).

• Gloucester have averaged 5.9 tries per game, more than any other side this season, while Newcastle have scored the third most (5.3).

• Adam Radwan leads the way for tries scored (10), metres gained (630), defenders beaten (45) and clean breaks (13, level with Gloucester’s Henry Purdy).

• Just three players have assisted 5+ tries in this season’s Challenge Cup – Gloucester’s Owen Williams (6) and Ben Vellacott (5) and Newcastle’s Toby Flood (5).