Photos (c) Martin Bennett / Gloucester Rugby

Gloucester Rugby exit the Heineken Champions Cup despite putting in one of their performances of the season at the home of the reigning champions, La Rochelle.

Cherry & White hearts were broken with minutes left when France international Teddy Thomas crossed to secure a 29-26 win at Stade Marcel Deflandre.

Antoine Hastoy, the tournament's top points scorer, put the home side in front early on, much to the enjoyment of the passionate home support.

But it was the travelling Cherry & Whites supporters who were cheering minutes later, when Chris Harris carved through the defence for the game's opening try. A neat move slipped the Scottish centre through a hole in midfield and he went under the posts untouched.

Fly-half Billy Twelvetrees added the extras from in front, having missed an early penalty attempt due to the wind.

Twelvetrees was on the scoresheet yet again when he knocked over a penalty to take the Cherry & Whites' lead to seven points.

But the reigning champions fought back and showed why their quality with two quick-fire tries.

Their slick hands and quick ruck speed got them to within touching distance of the Gloucester line, and hooker, Pierre Bourgarit crossed for the hosts' first five-pointer of the day, which was duly converted by Hastoy.

Minutes later, Louis Rees-Zammit and Twelvetrees struggled to deal with a quick through. Teddy Thomas took advantage and skipped into the right-hand corner to take the lead for La Rochelle.

Just as it seemed the home side were getting a grip on the game, the Cherry & Whites fought their way back.

Freddie Clarke received the ball out wide and launched himself into the corner with an outrageous superman finish. Twelvetrees couldn't add a difficult conversion.

The Gloucester Rugby fans were in fine voice now, and they were on their feet once again when Santi Carreras crossed the whitewash. But play was pulled back for a push in the build-up.

And that was all the first half had in store, with the scoreline even at 15 points each.

La Rochelle came out of the sheds with a bit between their teeth.

They were favourites going into the game and they were eager to show why.

Lewis Ludlow was sin-binned for bringing down a La Rochelle maul, and the French side took advantage of being a man up, with a try through scrum-half, Tawera Kerr-Barlow. Hastoy added the conversion.

Despite being a man down, George Skivington's side were not going down easily.

They worked their way back upfield and with a penalty advantage in their back pocket, Twelvetrees lifted a kick into the corner to Rees-Zammit, who gathered for the score. Twelvetrees again was just wide with his attempt for the extras.

However, the Cherry & Whites did retake the lead in the 55th minute, Twelvetrees nailed a 40-metre penalty into a strong wind.

Twelvetrees extended the lead with ten minutes left on the clock. Replacement prop Georges-Henri Colombe Reazel was sent to the sin bin for a horrid-looking croc roll on Ruan Ackermann in the build-up.

The Cherry & Whites defended their own line like their lives depended on it in the closing stages, but it wasn't to be, as the ball was whipped wide to Thomas who crossed for his second of the night.

Hastoy added the extras and La Rochelle progressed to the quarter-final with a 29-26 win.

Gloucester Rugby finish their season with back-to-back home games in the Gallagher Premiership against rivals Bath and Sale Sharks, before a trip down the M5 to play Bristol Bears in the final round.

Finally, a word on the travelling Cherry & Whites fans, who once again travelled in significant numbers and made themselves heard around Stade Marcel Deflandre. Thank you for your support.

POST MATCH REACTION |

Gloucester Rugby exit Champions Cup fighting at Stade Marcel Deflandre

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