Premiership Rugby Cup: Gloucester and Leicester book semi-final places
- Published
Louis Hillman-Cooper scored Gloucester's opening try against Coventry
Ollie Thorley's late try helped Gloucester snatch a 32-31 win over Coventry at Kingsholm to complete an unbeaten pool stage and secure a place in the Premiership Cup semi-finals.
Trailing by four points with the clock dead, Thorley went over to clinch Gloucester's fifth win from five games.
They will be joined by Exeter, Ealing and Leicester, who go through despite being beaten 49-28 at Bedford.
Exeter also lost, 34-14 at Bath, while Harlequins and Saracens both won.
Gloucester and Leicester took unbeaten records into the final weekend of pool matches and the Cherry and Whites almost came unstuck against Championship opposition.
After conceding the game's first try, Gloucester responded with Mark Atkinson's offload to send Louis Hillman-Cooper over.
Alex Hearle put them in the lead and Jack Clement finished a rolling maul to send the hosts in ahead at 17-12.
Clement's second try and a penalty from George Barton looked to have sealed the game but Coventry then scored three tries without reply to take the lead, only to be denied at the death.
Leicester sent a young side to Bedford, making 23 changes from the squad who beat Newcastle last weekend.
The inexperience told as Bedford ran in seven tries for their third win the competition and first against Premiership opposition.
Strong Bath see off Chiefs
Exeter never recovered from conceding four tries in the first half against Bath
Exeter were already assured of a place in the semi-finals and went down at Bath, who selected almost a first choice XV.
Tries from Niall Annett, Tom de Glanville, Piers Francis and Will Muir opened up a 29-0 half-time lead before Max Ojomoh added a fifth try after the break.
Quins and Sarries sign off with wins
Harlequins couldn't qualify but ended their campaign with a much-changed XV winning at Nottingham, scoring seven tries.
They built a 26-0 lead before Xavier Valentine and Dafydd Tiueti crossed for the Championship side, with Michael Stronge adding another consolation after the break as Quins stretched ahead to win 45-21.
Saracens also could not progress after defeat to Quins last week but finished on a high with a 10-try demolition of Hartpury.
They fielded several first choice players with Alex Goode at fly-half and Alex Lozowski kicking six conversions in a 68-10 home win.