Welcome to RUCK’s live updates for the EPCR Challenge Cup Final, as Gloucester Rugby take on the Sharks. Kick off is at 8:00pm, at the state of the art Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
FULL TIME – THE SHARKS WIN THE 2023/24 EPCR CHALLENGE CUP.
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GLOUCESTER RUGBY 22 – 36 HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS
80′ Gloucester fail to clear their lines and the Sharks look like they are over. The call is ‘held-up’, but the Sharks are already jubilant in celebration.
79′ GLOUCESTER TRY – Freddie Clarke finishes off an end to end score for Gloucester, who will not quit despite the score-line. After creating the earlier score, Clarke is on hand to score one of his own in the Challenge Cup Final. (22-36)
78′ Eben Etzebeth just laid out Hastings with a brutal hit. The lock is an absolute titan in Tottenham.
77′ GLOUCESTER CONVERSION – Hastings nails the extras, but it looks like it’s too little too late. (17-36)
77′ GLOUCESTER TRY – Santiago Socino finishes off an enjoyable try, with plenty of off-loading flair on display from Freddie Clarke. (15-36)
74′ Jonny May is withdrawn for Gloucester, and he receives a resounding ovation following such incredible service in Cherry and White. He bids farewell to his beloved side.
74′ PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Vincent Koch wins the award. A stunning performance from the front rower, who’s contribution was essential at scrum-time.
73′ Masuku is distributing the ball, but then goes alone. Jack Clement is over the ball and wins a turnover. Great work from the young Gloucester forward.
72′ The Sharks motor away downfield. The maul breaks down but the carriers fly in.
72′ The Sharks are delighted to oblige with the penalty, and send a kick out to the touchline.
71′ A devastating decision for Gloucester, as Varney is ruled offside and the try will not stand.
71′ Socinio overthrows the ball to the back of the line-out, and Zach Mercer breaks away. The ball is sent wayward and Jonny May volleys the ball, with Stephen Varney grounding the ball first. Is Varney offside? We go to the TMO…
70′ A loose pass is almost lost by Gloucester, but they manage to get away with it as a Sharks player is pinged for offside.
70′ Gloucester have the ball, but in a tricky position. The Sharks’ punt through the back-line bounced into touch, and Gloucester now have to clear their lines under the pressure.
69′ Etzebeth is cut down like a redwood tree by Lewis Ludlow, with the Gloucester man’s passion burning in the matches’ final 10 minutes.
68′ Once again the ball changes hands at the scrum, just a free kick this time. The Sharks get the put in and Ox Nche is eager for more.
67′ The scrum is re-set, an unpopular opinion for those in Cherry and White.
66′ The Sharks send a penalty to touch and build from the line-out. Gloucester are able to contain the pack, and the South African side knock the ball on. Gloucester get the scrum, but can they keep it?
65′ A lot of dejected faces around the Cherry and Whites camp. Another scrum penalty, this time against Viyvas.
63′ Hastings gives away a penalty, as he obstructs a Sharks player’s run to the loose ball. A rare miss for Masuku off the tee, who will miss out on a perfect record.
60′ SHARKS CONVERSION – A conversion of the top draw, as Masuku re-establishes the Sharks lead. (10-36)
59′ SHARKS TRY- A brutal yet clinical score coming from Carreras’ high ball knock on. Masuku spots Mapimpi on the left wing, and sends an inch perfect kick to the Springboks wing. (10-34)
57′ GLOUCESTER CONVERSION – Adam Hastings hits the conversion from out wide. Gloucester trail by 19 with 22 minutes left on the clock. Is the comeback on? (10-29)
57′ GLOUCESTER TRY – Albert Tuisue scores off his first touch! The big man drives over the rolling maul for his ninth Challenge Cup try this season. (8-29)
54′ SHARKS CONVERSION – No missing that one, easiest kick of the day from Masuku. (3-29)
54′ SHARKS TRY – Fassi cleans up after the initial break down the left wing is halted. He dives straight under the posts and the South African club is overjoyed. (3-27)
53′ Mapimpi cut short to the try line by Jonny May, as the Sharks cruise down field.
52′ SHARKS PENALTY – Masuku sends another effort through the posts. Looking like the Sharks have one hand on the trophy. (3-21).
51′ Once again there is an air-bound collision between Mapimpi and Carreras, but the referee judges that both men had only eyes for the ball. The Pumas wing receives a bit of medical help but pushes on.
51′ Etzebeth flies into a ruck with a shunting clear out, the Springboks lock is having a strong game.
50′ SHARKS PENALTY – Masuku sends it straight down the middle of the sticks once more. (3-19)
49′ Another penalty to the Sharks… before the ball is even fed into the scrum. The decision is that Viyvas is pulled back, an obscure call.
48′ The first scrum is null and void. It looks like Kirill Gotovtsev slipped, but no penalty is awarded.
48′ We get set for another scrum… Gloucester put in but they are on their own 5m line.
47′ Gloucester have their hands on the ball… turnover! Ruan Ackermann gets the plaudits with a monstrous steal at the breakdown.
46′ The rolling maul is halted well, solid defence from Gloucester. The picks are now short and sharp for the Sharks. Socino is flying in with chop tackles.
45′ The Sharks line up for the cross-field kick, but Masuku’s kick is too heavy for Werner Kok and its rolls into touch. The Sharks return for a penalty and they kick to the corner, with Gloucester eyeing up a brutal defensive shift.
44′ Santi Socino puts in a big shot on Mbonambi, halting the hooker in his tracks.
43′ Gloucester now have a line-out put in, with Grant Williams running the intercept for the Sharks.
42′ Just as soon as Gloucester win the scrum, they turn the ball back over to the Sharks for being in front of the kicker as Englefield cleared his lines. We return for the advantage.
41′ Gloucester win a crucial penalty, with Gloucester set to try out a fresh front row. The Cherry and Whites win the scrum convincingly… big momentum shift!
SECOND HALF: We are back underway at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
HALF TIME
40′ The clock is in the red, and Grant Williams sends the ball into the front row. Half time score in North London is Gloucester 3-16 Sharks.
38′ Gloucester bring it out once more. They breakaway right, but Vincent Tshituka is over to win the ball at the breakdown.
37′ Gloucester successfully retain the scrum put in, but the forward momentum is short lived. A Sharks knock on in contact leads to another Gloucester scrum, can they keep the ball once more?
37′ Gloucester get the scrum… will it be a fifth penalty?
36′ Ollie Thorley could be in trouble here, the Gloucester man makes contact with a mid-air player Fassi. No foul play is determined, we go back for the scrum.
35′ SHARKS PENALTY – Masuku makes no mistake. Gloucester are suffering from the scrums. (3-16)
34′ Four scrum penalties! The Sharks are decimating Gloucester up front. The ball is turned over and Masuku points to the posts
34′ Mapimpi illegally halts Gloucester’s ruck, after losing a battle in the air against Carreras. Free kick awarded to Gloucester, who chose a scrum.
32′ Englefield returns fire with a clearance kick, and a clipped finger from Etzebeth awards the ball back to the Premiership club. The following line-out is lost, and the Sharks march up to half way.
31′ The Sharks gather the ball, and the tight-head Vincent Koch sends a lovely grubber kick downfield for a 50-22! The South African side is finding their groove.
30′ SHARKS PENALTY Masuku nails the kick from in front of the posts, striking the ball like a composed footballer at the Tottenham stadium. (3-13)
29′ Sharks kick downfield, the ball is flung in field. Sharks have a penalty advantage… the referee blows the whistle and Masuku has another crack at goal.
28′ A third scrum penalty for the Sharks, as Gloucester are getting dominated up front.
26′ SHARKS CONVERSION: A routine conversion for Masuku stretches the Sharks lead to seven. (3-10)
26′ SHARKS TRY: An exceptional run from the number eight, who explodes through the defence and beats the last defender. A brilliant line from Vincent Koch, but the all important offload finds Buthelezi for the opening try. (3-8)
24′ Some bruising carries flying in now…
22′ GLOUCESTER PENALTY: Englefield steps up for a thunderous penalty. 59m out that was an exceptional kick. (3-3)
22′ Ox Nche is then penalised at the ruck, and Gloucester have another crack at the posts.
21′ Santiago Carreras misses his effort at the posts, Sharks remain three points ahead.
20′ Another excellent take by Carreras, and the Argentine wins a penalty. The Sharks are penalised for not rolling away at the breakdown and Gloucester plan a kick at goal.
19′ Box kick is responded with a box kick… now the big boys get involved with a big carry from Nche.
18′ Breaking down into a bit of kick tennis, with Fassi taking a high ball on his return from the bin. Carreras then takes a ball well.
18′ Masuku sends the ball back skyward, and the returning Carreras takes the high ball well.
17′ The sharks build an attack, Grant Williams’ box kick is claimed by Mbonambi.
16′ Hastings is absolutely wiped out in the midfield, and Carreras sends the ball downfield for Gloucester. Fassi returns to the pitch following his time in the bin.
15′ Englefield tries his luck from the boot, but Mapimpi takes the ball despite nearly dropping it.
14′ SHARKS PENALTY – Masuku lands the first points of the match, with the halfback capitalising on the scrum penalty. (0-3)
13′ Another scrum penalty to the sharks, Balmain once again undone by the brilliant Ox Nche. Vincent Koch splits the gap in the front row, and Nche once again turns the tide on the Cherry and Whites front row.
12′ A well timed collision from Ollie Thorley disrupts the attack, as the Sharks spill the ball into touch and Gloucester opt for the scrum.
11′ The Sharks steal the ball at the lineout, and build some momentum of their own inside the Gloucester 22m.
10′ A brief game of kick tennis breaks out, and Masuku sends some well placed kicks down field.
9′ The ball is cleared down field, Mbonambi’s line-out is stolen and Gloucester start another attack.
8′ We reset for a Gloucester scrum 5m out, under the Sharks posts… just the Springbok front row between them and a try… and the Sharks get the scrum turnover. Nche gets underneath Balmain for the turnover.
8′ The Gloucester fans think they’ve scored… Chris Harris isn’t convinced he’s got the ball down with excellent covering defence from Eben Etzebeth.
7′ A lovely nudge from Hastings, as Gloucester look to Jonny May for a score in the corner… just bobbled into touch, Gloucester are kicking down the door for an opening try.
6′ SHARKS YELLOW CARD: 15. Aphelele Fassi – Sent to the bin for a high shot on Englefield
6′ Gloucester hit a few short drives on the Sharks 5m line, before the ball is spilt.
5′ The Cherry and Whites are building a full head of steam, Englefield splits the Sharks defence.
3′ Gloucester have a second go at the corner again, but the Sharks force the Gloucester maul into tocuh with wonderful defence.
2′ – Gloucester go to the corner following a high tackle from Mapimpi. The Cherry and Whites try to drive it over but they are halted.
1′ – A dubious looking collision involves Zach Mercer from the get go. The mid-air clash is let off by the match officials.
KICK OFF: We are underway for the first half. The Sharks look to become the first South African side to win an EPCR title, whilst Gloucester eye a second trophy for the season.
SCORERS
GLOUCESTER RUGBY: 22
TRIES: Tuisue 57′, Socino 77′, Clarke 79′
CONVERSIONS: Hastings 57′, 77′
PENALTIES: Englefield 22′
DROP GOALS:
YELLOW CARDS:
RED CARDS:
GLOUCESTER LINE-UP
15. Santiago Carreras, 14. Jonny May, 13. Chris Harris, 12. Seb Atkinson, 11. Ollie Thorley, 10. Adam Hastings, 9. Caolan Englefield, 1. Jamal Ford-Robinson, 2. Seb Blake, 3. Fraser Balmain, 4. Freddie Clarke, 5. Arthur Clark, 6. Ruan Ackermann, 7. Lewis Ludlow (c), 8. Zach Mercer
Replacements: 16. Santiago Socino, 17. Mayco Vivas, 18. Kirill Gotovtsev, 19. Albert Tuisue, 20. Jack Clement, 21. Stephen Varney, 22. Max Llewellyn, 23. Josh Hathaway
HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS: 36
TRIES: Buthelezi 26′, Fassi 54′, Mapimpi 60′
CONVERSIONS: Masuku 26′, 54′, 60′
PENALTIES: Masuku 14′, 30′, 35′, 50′, 53′
DROP GOALS:
YELLOW CARDS: Fassi 6′
RED CARDS:
SHARKS LINE-UP
15. Aphelele Fassi, 14. Werner Kok, 13. Ethan Hooker, 12. Francois Venter, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 10. Siya Masuku, 9. Grant Williams, 1. Ox Nche, 2. Bongi Mbonambi, 3. Vincent Koch, 4. Eben Etzebeth (c), 5. Gerbrandt Grobler, 6. James Venter, 7. Vincent Tshituka, 8. Phepsi Buthelezi
Replacements: 16. Fez Mbatha, 17. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18. Hanro Jacobs, 19. Lappies Labuschagne, 20. Dylan Richardson, 21. Cameron Wright, 22. Curwin Bosch, 23. Eduan Keyter