Gloucester 33 Braves 20

Gloucester United 33

Exeter Braves 20

Mark Stevens at Kingsholm

Defending champions Exeter Braves relinquished their Aviva A League crown for this year as Gloucester ended their hopes with this powerful display at Kingsholm.

Dan Thomas, Mat Protheroe, Olly Thorley, Ed Bogue and Carwyn Penny all ran in tries for the hosts, four of which were converted by the boot of fly-half Lloyd Evans.

In reply, the Braves countered with scores from Shaun Malton, Harry Strong and Elvis Taione, plus a kick apiece for Joe Simmonds and Harvey Skinner, but it was never enough on the night.

Unbeaten in the competition since round one when they lost to Saracens, it was a powerful looking Braves line-up that took to the field for this winner-takes-all encounter.

Internationals Lachie Turner, Martin Roberts, Moray Low and Tom Johnson were all included from the outset, as was experienced skipper Julian Salvi, Matt Jess and Damian Welch.

Likewise, Gloucester had plenty of quality within their starting ranks, including Exeter-bound England flanker Matt Kvesic, who will be making the switch to Sandy Park this summer after four years with the Cherry & Whites.

And it Kvesic who was celebrating first as the home side broke the deadlock inside three minutes. Lock Joe Batley picked off a pass from Roberts and it created the opening for Thomas to cross in the right corner.

Five minutes later and the home side were adding to their tally, adding a second gift-wrapped try through Protheroe. The speedy full-back took a risk flying out of the line as Joe Simmonds looked to pass to his left, but his gamble paid dividends as he was able to race from his own 22 and under the sticks for the score, converted by Evans.

Somewhat shell-shocked by Gloucester’s opening blast, the Braves needed to get a foothold in the game. Their pack did their best to win the heavyweight tussle upfront, but too often the visitors were guilty of over complicating things or mishandling at key times.

However, as the first half minutes ticked by, so the Braves finally got into their stride, opening their account on the half hour mark with a tried-and-trusted, catch-and-drive score.

Having seen their first attempt illegally thwarted by their rivals, a second attempt saw Welch claim the set-piece, he was engulfed by his fellow forwards and over went hooker Malton for the score.

Exeter had the chance to replicate the move shortly after when Roberts was felled by a high tackle from Kvesic, but this time Malton’s attempt at ‘Double Tops’ saw him overthrow to Johnson and Gloucester were able to clear the danger with relative ease.

HALF TIME GLOUCESTER UNITED 12  EXETER BRAVES 5

Just a score down, the Braves were first to show on the resumption and they gave themselves a decent early chance when a clever kick in behind from Joe Simmonds saw older brother Sam snag Gloucester replacement Harry Randall just five metres from his own line.

This time the line-out functioned well enough for the visitors, but they couldn’t find the necessary drive towards the line and it was Gloucester who swallowed up the move, winning a turnover scrum.

Exeter’s failure to make the most of the chance then came back to haunt them as Gloucester – with their first meaningful attack of the half – stretched their lead with a stunning individual try from Thorley.

Collecting the ball at pace just inside the Exeter half, the fleet-footed centre turned on the after burners to scorch clear of the Braves cover and score. Evans again converted to make it 19-5.

Two scores adrift, the Braves needed to summon a quick riposte – and this they did with an instance.

Having milked a penalty for pulling down a maul deep inside the Gloucester 22, quick-thinking from Joe Simmonds saw him catch the hosts napping – and his pinpoint cross-field kick fell into the arms of Strong to score. The fly-half netted the extras to put the Braves back in touch.

As the Braves pressed hard to get level, their cause was hampered when they lost Joe Simmonds to the sin-bin. In attempting to field a Gloucester clearance, he was adjudged to have held on too long, thus preventing the hosts from strike a potential fatal blow.

In his absence, the Braves rallied and hauled themselves in front for the first time.  Replacement Skinner slotted a routine penalty after Kvesic was sin-binned for killing the ball; then another penalty – this time to the corner – saw Taione inch his way over from a five-metre line-out.

Sadly, Exeter’s lead would prove short-lived as back stormed Gloucester. Countering through the dangerous Protheroe, he scythed through the heart of the Braves defence, offloading to Randall, who in turn was able to feed Bogue for the crucial fourth score.

Evans converted that score and Gloucester’s coupe de grace, which came in the final minute, when Kvesic and Randall combined sweetly to send Penny over in the right corner.

It was a valiant effort from Pellow’s side in the defence of their crown, but it was sadly not to be as Gloucester and Saracens advanced into the last four at their expense.

Gloucester United: M Protheroe; E Bogue, O Thorley, T Hudson (C Penny 39), H Robinson; L Evans, B Vellacott (H Randall h/t); C Orr (A Saville 71), D Dawiduik (H Walker 61), S Ma’afu (C Knight h/t); C Beckett (capt), J Batley (W Safe 61); D Thomas, M Kvesic, F Clarke. Replacements (not used): C Knight, C Allen, H Wilson.

Tries – Thomas, Protheroe, Thorley, Bogue, Penny; Conversions – Evans (4)

Yellow Card: Kvesic

Exeter Braves: L Turner; H Strong (H Skinner 61), M Bodilly, T Hendrickson, M Jess; J Simmonds, M Roberts; W Norton (J Owlett 61), S Malton (E Taione 69), M Low; J Caulfield, D Welch; T Johnson, J Salvi (capt, T Lawday 49), S Simmonds. Replacements (not used): W Cutbiill, S Lonsdale, H Thomas, N Mason.

Tries – Malton, Strong, Taione; Conversion – J Simmonds; Penalty – Skinner

Yellow Card: J Simmonds

Referee: A Leal

Attendance: 897