LV= Cup
Gloucester keep semi-final hopes alive
PA Sport
February 7, 2015
Jacob Rowan was among the try scorers for Gloucester © Getty Images
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Gloucester will keep a close eye on Sunday's LV= Cup clash between Saracens and Exeter after nearly doing what was needed to qualify for the knockout stages with a 25-7 victory over Harlequins at Kingsholm.

The Cherry and Whites were never headed as tries from flankers Dan Thomas and Jacob Rowan plus wing Steph Reynolds, along with two penalties and two conversions from fly-half Aled Thomas, were enough to see them home, albeit without a try bonus point.

Quins went over for a try by wing Ugo Monye, which fly-half Ben Botica converted and may have scored another during the game but could not find the path through.

Adam Thompstone catches a cross-field kick from team-mate George Catchpole to score a try, Cardiff Blues v Leicester Tigers, LV= Cup, Cardiff Arms Park, February 7, 2015
Adam Thompstone catches a cross-field kick from team-mate George Catchpole to score for Leicester © Getty Images
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Replacement hooker Matthew Dwyer scored a last-gasp try as the Ospreys stunned Bath 13-10 at the Rec to inflict only a second home defeat of the season on the Aviva Premiership high-flyers.

Dwyer, a 30-year-old sergeant in the Welsh guards, went over in the 79th minute to silence a capacity 13,400 crowd and earn the Ospreys their first success in this season's LV= Cup.

Sam Davies converted Dwyer's try to go with a brace of penalties, while Bath were left empty-handed despite taking a 10-3 half-time lead through tries from Richard Lane and Max Lahiff.

Ospreys' disappointing run of results in the competition meant a semi-final place was out of the question for the Welsh side even before kick-off, while Bath had little chance of progressing either.

Leicester secured a home semi-final after fighting back from a first-half deficit to claim a convincing 43-9 victory over Cardiff at the Arms Park.

The injury-ravaged Blues led 9-3 just before the interval thanks to a hat-trick of Gareth Davies penalties, but Fraser Balmain's 37th-minute try for Leicester opened the floodgates for the visitors as they ran in five more scores.

Niall Morris crossed just before half-time to give Leicester a 15-9 lead at the break, before second-half tries from David Mele, Tommy Bell and a brace from Adam Thompstone helped the Tigers cruise to victory.

A bonus-point win saw Northampton power into the semi-finals for the fourth time in six seasons thanks to a 29-6 victory over Wasps at Franklin's Gardens.

Leicester's win over Cardiff meant tries from Jamie Elliott, Kahn Fotuali'i, Phil Dowson and debutant Ahsee Tuala saw Northampton finish above the Blues and top Pool Two.

The only downside for Northampton was the sight of England loosehead Alex Corbisiero limping off in the first half after being overlooked by Stuart Lancaster for England's opening Six Nations Nations game.

London Irish continued their winless run in this season's competition as returning wing Alesana Tuilagi inspired Dean Richards' Newcastle to a 31-13 win in Reading.

The Exiles began brightly and went 6-0 in front with two penalties from fly-half Myles Dorrian, before Will Welch wont over for the visitors in the 20th minute, with Tom Catterick converting.

Alesana Tuilagi went over for the second score, before Newcastle winger Sinoti Sinoti made it 19-6, with No.8 Ally Hogg getting the fourth.

Irish hit back with Fergus Mulchrone going over in the corner, but a final flourish from the visitors saw replacement wing Jamie Helleur surge forward down the left to cross.

Tom Arscott touched down twice as Sale ended their LV=Cup campaign with a 38-3 triumph over Scarlets at the AJ Bell Stadium.

With far more experience and power on the field, it was no surprise to see Sale take control of the match from the off and they went into the break 21-3 ahead through Dan Braid, Mike Haley and Arscott tries.

Frazier Climo kicked a penalty for the Welsh region in the first half, but their youngsters struggled to cope and the Sharks extended their advantage after the interval via further touchdowns from Arscott, Viliami Fihaki and, on his 100th appearance, Tom Brady.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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