Sharples slays Dragons
Charlie Sharples scored four tries as Gloucester breezed into the final of the LV= Cup with a 45-17 win over Newport-Gwent Dragons.
By Elliot Ball
Last Updated: 13/03/11 3:23pm
Winger Charlie Sharples scored four second-half tries as Gloucester breezed into the final of the LV= Cup with a 45-17 win over Newport-Gwent Dragons on Sunday.
The Aviva Premiership side set up a date with Newcastle Falcons in next weekend's showpiece at Northampton after comfortably beating their Welsh opponents at Kingsholm.
Fly-half Nicky Robinson also starred with a 15-point haul as the Cherry and Whites secured their 10th win in a row to reach their third successive LV= Cup final.
Andrew Hazel gave the hosts the lead after three minutes with a robust try but Robinson failed to convert the resulting kick.
The Dragons defence were being asked serious questions by the Cherry and Whites attack and the relentless pressure took its toll in the 12th minute as Robinson's clever pass found Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu to extend Gloucester's advantage and Robinson converted the routine kick.
Cruel
Dragons finally mustered an attack and Tom Riley came agonisingly close to tracking down Patrick Leach's deft kick, but the Welsh side were dealt a cruel blow in the 32nd minute when Robinson intercepted opposite number Jason Tovey's pass to sprint clear for the try before missing the easy conversion.
Gloucester began the second half brightly and Sharples touched down after more good work by Robinson, who added points with the boot.
Dragons finally took advantage of territory in the 51st minute as Adam Rhys Jones bundled over the line, but the Magners League side did not have long to savour the try as Sharples scored his second of the match two minutes later from a rapid move involving Olly Morgan.
Sharples soon grabbed his hat-trick try in the 56th minute when replacement Akapusi Qera gathered an over-thrown Dragons lineout to race clear before teeing up the winger.
And Sharples was at it again after staving off three defenders to score his fourth in the 64th minute.
Aled Brew (71) and Jevon Groves (79) claimed consolation tries for the Dragons but their LV= Cup quest ended at Kingsholm.