Anscombe’s last-gasp penalty bags Bilbao glory for Cardiff

CARDIFF

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Gareth Anscombe showed nerves of steel to secure Cardiff Blues’ second European Challenge Cup title in an unforgettable 31-30 comeback win over Gloucester at Bilbao’s San Mames Stadium.

Anscombe had missed a chance to draw Cardiff level at 30-30, failing to convert Blaine Scully’s 75th-minute try, but he was back on target two minutes from time with a match-winning penalty from the left wing.

The Blues were teetering on the brink when trailing 20-6 at halftime, with Henry Trinder and Mark Atkinson having crossed for Gloucester and the Welsh region losing both Josh Navidi and Owen Lane to injury. However, the 2010 champions stormed back with tries from Tomos Williams and Garyn Smith in a 13-point surge, including Jarrod Evans’ third penalty.

James Hanson’s maul try and Billy Twelvetrees’ continued accuracy off the tee – he finished with 15 points – gave Gloucester a 30-23 lead, but it was not enough as Lewis Ludlow’s yellow card was followed by the try from Scully, pictured, and full-back Anscombe’s all-important kick.

It was final heartbreak again for the Cherry and Whites, who lost the 2017 decider to Stade Francais. Cardiff’s stirring display, however, provided the ideal send-off for departing head coach Danny Wilson, backs and attack coach Matt Sherratt and retiring prop Taufa’ao Filise.

Cardiff lost Navidi to a shoulder injury after he had set up Evans’ lead penalty in the opening minutes.

In response, Gloucester winger Trinder scored the first of the night’s six tries. Twelvetrees converted for a 7-3 lead. Cardiff forced a second kickable penalty which 21-year-old stand-off Evans slotted over, 15 minutes in.

Twelvetrees restored the four-point gap with a penalty and Gloucester then put together a stunning tenpoint salvo before the break. Twelvetrees, Trinder and Braley crafted a slick try for centre Atkinson which Twelvetrees converted before tagging on a penalty with the final kick of the first half.

The second period was only 50 seconds old when Cardiff scrum-half Williams dribbled through to touch down. Evans converted and then added a penalty. The young Blues stand-off then threaded a kick through for replacement winger Smith to dot down. Evans converted but Gloucester’s Hanson then piled over from a wellexecuted drive. Twelvetrees converted and added a 62ndminute scrum penalty.

American Scully scampered over in the right corner for the Blues and, while the conversion went wide, Gloucester winger Tom Marshall was pinged for not releasing and Anscombe became Cardiff ’s late hero.