The Cherry and Whites dispatched Sale Sharks 19-12 and Saracens 15-12 to progress to the final from Pool A at The Recreation Ground.

The Kingsholm men met London Irish in the final, but despite racing into a 28-5 half-time lead, the exploits of a tiring night took their toll.

Irish lost to London Welsh, but made the final thanks to Bath beating the Premiership new boys and a hefty Irish win over the Blue, Black and Whites.

And when it came to the crunch, Irish just had the edge to lift the title.

Despite just missing out though, this was another excellent showing from Gloucester, who exuded heart and desire in spades.

POOL A GAME ONE:

GLOUCESTER RUGBY 19 SALE SHARKS 12

Two tries from speedster Ian Clark edged Gloucester to an opening victory - and forced Sale Sharks out of the contest.

Matt Cox opened the scoring for Gloucester, with Clark claiming a first-half score.

Sale hit back, but Clark was able to poach a late winner - and given Sale's opening 33-12 defeat to Saracens, the Sharks exited the competition without a win to their name.

Gloucester got off to the perfect start, Cox stiff-arming home down the left after Dan Robson stole the ball at the base of a Sale scrum.

Robson failed with the conversion attempt, but Gloucester were soon back in scoring form.

Speedster Clark raced home through the middle after a calm counter-attack.

Robson's conversion left Gloucester 12 points to the good, but Sale were able to claw their way back into proceedings before the break.

Josh Beaumont's try and Will Addison's conversion left Gloucester 12-7 ahead at the turnaround.

Gloucester enjoyed the better of some early second-half territory, but after kicking away possession they allowed Sale to strike from distance.

Charlie Amesbury bisected the Cherry and Whites' defence to romp home and tie the scores at 12 apiece, with Addison missing the conversion.

A loose pass from Huia Edmonds bobbled its way to Clark on the wing, and the impish flyer eased to a fortuitous - but crucial - score.

Robson's conversion put Gloucester back in the box seat, and the Cherry and Whites were able to hold out for a dogged victory.

POOL A GAME TWO:

GLOUCESTER RUGBY 15 SARACENS 12

Another Ian Clark double proved just enough to send Gloucester into the final.

Saracens wing James Short eluded Gloucester Academy youngster Clark for a first-half double.

But slippery speed king Clark had the last laugh.

Short's first-half brace had Gloucester on the ropes, the Saracens flyer outfoxing fellow speed man Clark twice in succession.

But Clark hit back with a score of his own before the break, to keep Gloucester in the hunt, trailing 12-5.

After the turnaround Clark thought he had scored again, but his quick-tap finish was ruled out.

That only allowed Evans to finish instead, but Dan Robson was unable to convert to level the scores.

Gloucester claimed the lead for the first time shortly after though, capitalising on a Saracens knock-on.

Edmonds chipped ahead and hassled the defence into a turnover - then Dave Lewis chipped on again, to set Clark free.

The 19-year-old outstripped his on-the-night nemesis Short, dotted down - and sent Gloucester into the final.

THE FINAL: GLOUCESTER RUGBY 28 LONDON IRISH 31

Despite scoring four first-half tries, Gloucester were edged out at the death by resurgent London Irish.

Shane Monahan, Dave Lewis, Dan Robson and Gareth Evans all raced in for first-half scores, to make light of Marland Yarde's opening score.

But after the break Gloucester could not raise the level once more. Jonathan Joseph blasted in a brace of tries, with Alex Gray and Joe Ansbro's last-minute score stealing the silverware from under Gloucester's noses.

Former Whitgift School pupil Yarde opened the scoring for Irish with a smart finish down the right flank.

But Gloucester hit back through Monahan, who finished smartly after a Dave Lewis tackle forced a turnover in the Irish 22 and Robson's conversion edged Gloucester into a 7-5 lead.

Gareth Evans forced a good turnover from the restart, and playmaker Lewis raced through a small gap to double the Gloucester lead with Robson's second conversion increasing Gloucester's lead to seven.

Irish attacked with verve through Yarde, but Matt Cox hauled him down in the 22 and forced a turnover too. Monahan broke clear, fed Robson on the inside, and Gloucester registered a third try, Robson again converting.

Robson then produced a fine try-saving tackle to keep Irish at bay, and when Gloucester attacked again they blasted in a fourth first-half score, Evans this time delivering the finish after good work from Henry Trinder.

Irish struck first after the break, skipper Gray romping home, Tom Homer's conversion leaving Gloucester leading 28-12.

Joseph raced in from halfway to score Irish's third try, and converted it too.

And the young England centre struck again minutes later, converting again, to cut Gloucester's lead to just two points.

Clark won a fine turnover and strolled to the line, but did not see Jack Moates chasing back - and the Irish raider held Clark up over the line.

Gloucester could not capitalise from their attacking five-metre scrum, but were still clinging to their slender lead.

Right at the death though, Gloucester conceded possession - and Irish struck a hammer blow.

Despite leading for the contest's majority, gritty Gloucester faded at the death, and Ansbro raced into the left corner to steal the spoils.