Gloucester beat Connacht 14-7 to make it through to the European Challenge Cup semi-finals

Charlie Sharples scores for Gloucester

Gloucester beat Connacht 14-7 to make it through to the the European Challenge Cup semi-finals on Friday.

Winger Charlie Sharples and centre Bill Meakes went over for the home side while  Greig Laidlaw added both conversions. Connacht's points came from a penalty try award, converted by Jack Carty.

The semi-final draw has given Gloucester a home tie, where they will face the winners of Saturday's match between Exeter and Newcastle at Sandy Park.

Both teams made a cautious opening as they bombarded each other with up and unders, before Carty made two kicking errors which gave Gloucester a platform in the opposition half.

However, the hosts couldn't capitalise as they conceded a penalty for a scrummage offence, which allowed their opponents to temporarily relieve the pressure.

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Highlights of Gloucester's win over Connacht to make it through to the European Challenge Cup semi-finals

The first sustained period of pressure for either side came after 16 minutes when Sione Kalamafoni, Tom Palmer and Meakes all made dents in the visitors' defence. Sharples was given a chance but he was forced into touch 10 metres from the try-line, so the game remained scoreless at the end of the first quarter.

A minute later, Gloucester were ahead. Hook fielded a clearance kick to neatly evade a couple of defenders. The outside half put Steve McColl in space before the full back provided Sharples with an easy run in for the try, which Laidlaw converted.

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Gloucester's Richard Hibbard and James Hook say their win against Connacht was a tough battle in the Challenge Cup quarter-final

Just after the half hour, a dominant Gloucester extended their lead with Hook again the architect. This time the Welshman expertly chipped ahead for Meakes to collect and score. Laidlaw converted for a 14-0 interval lead.

Despite playing with wind advantage in the first half, Connacht never threatened and were dealt a blow when All Black Muliaina left the field with an injury just before half-time.

After the restart, the visitors had their best period of the match to pin Gloucester in their own half for the first 10 minutes. The Irish impressed with a couple of driving line-outs and had a chance to open their account, but they declined a kickable penalty in favour of a more attacking option but they failed to take advantage.

After 65 minutes Connacht came back into the game when a driving line-out saw the home side offend for a penalty try to be awarded with Carty converting.

Connacht pushed for the converted try which would have brought them level, but the home side held firm to progress.