Satala saves Gloucester

Andy Hazell on the burst

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Gloucester left it late to claim the win they needed to qualify for the semi-finals of the EDF Energy Cup.

With the visitors staring at elimination, an Apo Satala try just four minutes from the end took them through.

Jon Golding's first-half touchdown for Newcastle appeared to have ended Gloucester's hopes, who up to Satala's decisive intervention had been restricted to just two Olly Barkley penalties.

Barkley was just off target with a third-minute penalty attempt for Gloucester, who made much the better start.

Winger Iain Balshaw then had the home defence stretched when he switched to the opposite flank and cut deep into the hosts' 22, but his subsequent pass out to Lesley Vainikolo was adjudged forward.

The Falcons were under considerable pressure and it took them until the 18th minute to cross halfway, courtesy of a Steve Jones clearance helped into touch by the visitors' full-back to give them the lineout throw.

They shipped it quickly cross-field and after two forays down the right, the forwards took it on under the posts.

Three successive drives had Gloucester reeling and it was first blood to the Falcons when prop-forward Golding was driven over for the try.

Rob Miller added the conversion points but Gloucester hit back straight from the restart, and when a 35-metre penalty came their way, Barkley made no mistake.

Hustled

Tom May, the Newcastle centre, was hustled off the ball by Mike Tindall as the pair gave chase into the Gloucester 22, but when play swung back to the other end, Newcastle were penalised for not releasing at a ruck, and Barkley again took full advantage to reduce his side's deficit to 7-6.

After a slow start to the second period, the game sprung to life in the 50th minute when Vainikolo fielded a clearance and broke clear to release Tindall.

The Gloucester skipper made 30 metres and the try seemed certain, only for the England centre to be thwarted by a May tackle that forced him out by the flag.

Barkley was off target with a close-range penalty but Newcastle turned down a similar kick and it almost paid off when Phil Dowson stormed into the 22.

When Gloucester infringed again, however, and further out, Newcastle replacement fly-half Rory Clegg elected to kick and his long-range effort sailed over to stretch the home lead to 10-6.

Spurned

When a fourth consecutive kick at goal was spurned, Gloucester at last got their noses in front.

They ran it quickly down the right, the forwards took it on and replacement flanker Satala stormed over for the try.

Barkley failed with the conversion but Gloucester now had the lead which they craved and they guarded it to the end.