Zach Mercer from villain to hero as Gloucester beat Benetton to set up Challenge Cup final against Sharks
Gloucester Rugby’s Zach Mercer celebrates after team-mate Sebastian Blake (floor, blocked) scores their side’s second try of the game during the EPCR Challenge Cup semi-final match at Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester. Picture date: Saturday May 4, 2024.
Gloucester will take on the Sharks in this season’s Challenge Cup final on May 24 after they defeated Benetton 40-23 in an entertaining semi-final at Kingsholm on Saturday.
Tries from Josh Hathaway, Sebastian Blake, Adam Hastings, Freddie Clarke and Ollie Thorley helped the home side book their ticket to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Rhyno Smith and Gianmarco Lucchesi (2) scored for Benetton, who could not replicate their impressive United Rugby Championship form as their European campaign is over.
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England outcast Zach Mercer was awarded the player of the match award after an impressive performance, this despite being yellow carded for a trip earlier in the game.
Gloucester will now target a third Challenge Cup final win after lifting the trophy in 2006 and 2015.
The Cheery and Whites made a strong start, monopolising possession and territory before opening their account after six minutes when centre Chris Harris’ kick into space behind Benetton’s defence allowed Hathaway a simple finish.
The Italian side soon found their way into the game, though, with a Tomos Albornoz penalty rounding off a threatening spell that saw international flankers Sebastian Negri and Michele Lamaro make prominent contributions.
Hastings and Albornoz then exchanged penalties – Gloucester’s Scotland international found the target from 48 metres – and there was little to choose between the teams.
But Gloucester had immediate success when they turned to their driving lineout threat, sending Benetton backwards at a rate of knots from five metres out and Blake touched down.
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Hastings converted from the touchline, yet Gloucester saw number eight Mercer sin-binned for a trip on Smith, and the visitors almost responded immediately.
Wing Onisi Ratave breached Gloucester’s defence to touch down in the corner, but the try was ruled out following an off-the-ball push by a Benetton player in build-up play.
It was a major let-off for Gloucester, yet they could not reach half-time without conceding as Benetton cut them open from deep.
Negri and number eight Toa Halafihi made headway, and Smith had the pace to finish off, making it 15-11 at half-time.
Benetton looked to make further in-roads with Mercer still off, but they had their hands full at the breakdown where Gloucester captain Lewis Ludlow repeatedly made his presence felt.
Hastings kicked a second penalty in the 48th minute, only for Benetton to charge upfield after a lengthy Albornoz touch-finder and replacement hooker Luccheshi touch down following a well-executed lineout drive.
Gloucester had to respond, and they hit back with a try just three minutes later when strong carrying and sharp off-loading created room for Hastings to claim his team’s third try before adding the conversion.
And the home side were not finished, moving past 30 points when Clarke intercepted Albornoz’s pass and sprinted 50 metres for a try that Hastings converted.
Benetton refused to go quietly as Lucchesi claimed his second try of the game, but Caolan Englefield’s late penalty calmed any nerves and Gloucester were home and dry when Thorley touched down.
The teams
Gloucester: 15 Josh Hathaway, 14 Jonny May, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 Caolan Englefiled, 8 Zach Mercer, 7 Lewis Ludlow (c), 6 Ruan Ackermann, 5 Freddie Thomas, 4 Freddie Clarke, 3 Kirill Gotovtsev, 2 Seb Blake, 1 Mayco Vivas Replacements: 16 Santi Socino, 17 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 18 Ciaran Knight, 19 Albert Tuisue, 20 Jack Clement, 21 Stephen Varney, 22 Charlie Atkinson, 23 Alex Hearle
Benetton: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Ignacio Mendy, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Ignacio Brex, 11 Onisi Ratave, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Alessandro Garbisi, 8 Toa Halafihi, 7 Michele Lamaro (c), 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Eli Snyman, 4 Scott Scrafton, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Thomas Gallo Replacements: 16 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Giosué Zilocchi, 19 Niccolò Cannone, 20 Edoardo Iachizzi, 21 Alessandro Izekor, 22 Andy Uren, 23 Leonardo Marin
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant Referees: Mike Adamson (Scotland), Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)