Sunday's Heineken Cup round-up: Cardiff Blues blazed into the Heineken Cup quarter-finals after recording a remarkable 16-12 victory at Kingsholm. The Welsh side played for 53 minutes of a fierce encounter with 14 men after their international wing Tom James was sent off.
But Gloucester could not make their advantage count as substitute lock Bradley Davies powered over for the winning try four minutes from time.
Full-back Leigh Halfpenny kicked three penalties and a conversion and Gloucester had to settle for a losing bonus point despite leading 12-6 through four penalties by Olly Barkley.
The Blues, unbeaten Pool Six leaders, marched on following a fifth successive win. And if they collect an anticipated bonus point success at home to Italian whipping boys Calvisano next Friday, they will progress as top seeds.
Gloucester’s quarter-final progress is now in the lap of the gods.
They effectively need a bonus-point win against 2006 Heineken Cup runners-up Biarritz in France, but will still have to rely on other results going their way.
The most likely scenario is a damaging pool stage exit, yet they could have few complaints after the Blues outmuscled them through a performance which bristled with passion and endeavour.
In Pool Four, Llanelli Scarlets registered their first Heineken Cup win in 12 outings to put pay to Stade Francais’ last hopes of progressing to the knockout stages with a 31-17 triumph at Parc y Scarlets.
The last time Scarlets were successful in Europe, they beat Munster in the 2006-2007 quarter-finals.
The victory was earned with two tries from centre Jon Davies and one for David Lyons, as well as four penalties by Stephen Jones.
Stade’s points came from two tries for wing Guillaume Bousses and one for Mirco Bergamasco.
Bath had earlier set up a Group Five showdown with Toulouse next Sunday after a hard-fought victory over Newport at Rodney Parade. After Toulouse’s shock defeat at home to Glasgow yesterday, Bath moved top of the pool with a narrow 15-12 win.
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