Gloucester edge late, late show

Gloucester beat London Irish 36-34 in extra-time to win the European Challenge Cup final.

Gloucester have scored a thrilling 36-34 extra-time win against London Irish in the European Challenge Cup final at the Twickenham Stoop.

A try from James Forrester in the second period of extra time proved the sting in the tail of an absorbing contest that, with Gloucester having led for most of the game, appeared to be swinging in the direction of The Exiles late on.

The weight advantage of Irish's pack manifested itself in two late tries that tied the score at 31-31. But, faced with a last-minute conversion that would have sealed the silverware, Exiles fly-half Barry Everitt was found wanting.

Instead the victory was - eventually - Gloucester's, reward for both the work of their defence and the expansive counter-attacking they employed in the face of largely dominant possession and territory held by their opponents.

Irish had beaten Gloucester both home and away in the Guinness Premiership and were on the offensive from the off, Everitt handing them the lead with a penalty on four minutes that he extended similarly moments later.

But they were stung on 11 minutes when presence of mind from Mike Tindall resulted in a neat grubber kick that was kicked on by Mark Foster before the pacy winger touched down, with Ryan Lamb converting.

Suddenly Gloucester were leading and, following an infringement by Bob Casey, Lamb then extend their advantage to four points on 15 minutes.

The Exiles countered with another spell of possession and pressure, but their labours proved fruitless with the ball being turned over, Peter Richards eventually clearing Gloucester's lines.

Irish won the resulting lineout but, after a turnover, a well-weighted kick through by Lamb was chased by James Simpson-Daniel, the winger pressuring Mike Catt into touch.

Gloucester won the resulting line-out and terrific driving play saw Andy Hazell being forced over the line to score. Although Lamb missed the conversion, Gloucester's lead at this stage was a healthy one.

But a wicked kick through from Everitt moments later was mis-handled by Rob Thirlby and Delon Armitage was on hand to pick up the pieces and score, with the fly-half's conversion pulling the deficit back to two points.

A Lamb penalty two minutes later once again afforded Gloucester breathing space, the young fly-half then gaining territory with a superb kick to Irish's corner that his side were, on this occasion, unable to exploit.

Gloucester led 18-13 at half time and, with Everitt and Ludovic Mercier trading penalties early in the second half, the Cherry and Whites' lead was a precarious one.

A try was needed and Foster could have made made better use of an overlap on the hour, his pass to Simpson-Daniel too long when an angled run from Thirlby seemed the better option.

But four minutes later the breakthrough came, Simpson-Daniel intercepting a telegraphed pass from Casey before sprinting gleefully to the line for a score converted by Mercier.

Twelve points behind with the clock ticking, Irish pressed forward and, following a nail-biting piece of driving play, the video referee was brought in to rule on an appeal that the ball had been grounded.

No try was forthcoming but, with play brought back to Patrice Collazo's original penalty, Gloucester were not off the hook. And this time, following a rolling Irish maul, replacement David Paice scored.

Everitt coolly converted and, with eight minutes remaining, a grandstand finish was set up.

With just two minutes left and a try needed to level the scores, the recipe of Irish driving meeting desperate Gloucester defending was repeated.

The video referee was again consulted and, this time, the try was given - Robbie Russell adjudged to have made the all-important score.

And Everitt - with a 100 percent record thus far - needed to convert to win.

But he missed and, despite an outrageous drop goal attempt from Richards, extra time was needed. Irish continued their forward momentum but last-ditch Gloucester defence gained the precious turnover, with Mercier clearing their lines.

In the seventh minute of the first period, Olivier Azam gave away a penalty, with Everitt subsequently handing his side the lead for the first time since the 11th minute.

But Gloucester flew out of the traps at the start of the second period, with Forrester running onto his own grubber kick for the crucial score that edged his side into a two-point lead.

Mercier was unable to extend but, needing only a penalty or drop goal to snatch victory for The Exiles, both a drop goal and 45 metre penalty effort from Everitt sailed wide.

And, with his forwards unable to provide him with a third opportunity, the narrow win was Gloucester's.