Wasps march into Euro semis

Danny Cipriani starred for Wasps as they eased past Gloucester to reach the semi-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup.

The England fly-half, who is joining Melbourne Rebels in the summer, racked up 17 points with the boot while winger Tom Varndell grabbed a hat-tick of tries as Wasps' hunt for European glory gathered pace with a convincing 42-26 victory at Adams Park.

Gloucester scored two tries and clung onto Wasps' coat-tails via Nicky Robinson's kicking prowess, but the visitors' slow-ball cost their Challenge Cup hopes dear after dominating possession in Sunday's contest at Wycombe.

The Cherry and Whites opened the scoring though Robinson's first of four penalty kicks in the fifth minute, but the away side were playing catch-up from there on in as Wasps stamped their authority on the game, with Cipriani at the heart of the action.

Breeched

Paul Sackey, a late inclusion for the home side, led the instant response. He started a move which saw Ben Jacobs, playing his first game at full-back for Wasps, score the first try from Steve Kefu's quick off-load before Cipriani's conversion.

Robinson and Cipriani exchanged penalties before the latter's magnificent play in the 22nd minute saw the fly-half breech Gloucester's defence with some excellent footwork to cut inside Gloucester prop Olivier Azam, before teeing up Serge Betsen to go under the sticks.

But Cipriani showed his frailty in the tackle three minutes later as Gloucester's late-call-up Jonny May easily rode the 22-year-old's challenge before Adam Eustace went over the try line, to keep Gloucester in touch.

Winger Tom Varndell was the beneficiary of a generous video referee decision when he went over in the right corner on 32 minutes and Wasps edged further clear when Cipriani made light work of a difficult conversion.

The second half saw Cipriani extend Wasps' lead with his sixth kick of the afternoon, but the hosts' backline came under intense pressure as Gloucester bossed possession.

Unwise

Gloucester head coach Bryan Redpath was shaking his head as his side elected to play safe with Robinson's 56th minute penalty conversion and it proved an unwise decision as the visitors' dominance came to an end.

Both sides made use of their replacements and Wasps brought Tom Rees and Simon Shaw into the fray to warm applause from the Adams Park faithful and the latter clobbered team-mate Joe Simpson in a feisty tackle which saw the Number nine requiring lengthy treatment in the 67th minute.

And Wasps sprung into life from the resumption as a rapid breakaway saw Varndell fly over the try line from Jacob's pass inside following some magic hands from both Cipriani and Kefu.

Gloucester scored the try their second-half dominance deserved as Charlie Sharples crossed in the 76th minute, after Freddie Burns' delicate lay-off on the right wing.

But any slim hopes the visitors had of a comeback were extinguished as Varndell grabbed his third try after another fleet-footed move by man of the match Cipriani, who wrapped up the win with his fourth conversion.

The winners were later handed a home semi-final draw against Cardiff Blues, with the match to be played on the weekend of April 30-May 2.