Tykes topple Exiles to earn final date with Bath

Leeds Tykes 15 London Irish 6

Tries from Chris Bell and David Doherty secured Leeds a place in their first ever Twickenham final, and director of rugby Phil Davies will be hoping it can kick-start their stuttering season. The Tykes edged a patchy game, in front of a disappointing crowd of just 3,258, as Irish struggled to create any clear-cut chances.

The Leeds pack dominated for much of the game and their backs had enough pace to create problems for the Irish defence.

Leeds scorers: Tries: Bell, Doherty. Cons: Ross. Drop Goals: Ross.

LEEDS: Balshaw, Rees, Christophers, Bell, Doherty, Ross, McMillan, Shelley, Regan, Gerber, Murphy, Palmer, Morgan, Parks, Rigney.

Replacements: Dickens for McMillan (56), Rawlinson for Regan (53), Hooper for Murphy (53).

London Irish scorers: Pens: Mapletoft 2.

LONDON IRISH: Horak, Staniforth, Penney, Catt, Bishop, Mapletoft, Edwards, Hatley, Russell, Hardwick, Kennedy, Casey, Gustard, Dawson, Reid.

Replacements: Mordt for Staniforth (33), Everitt for Mapletoft (66), Hodgson for Edwards (72), Flavin for Russell (50), Strudwick for Kennedy (49), Murphy for Gustard (53).

Referee: T Spreadbury (England).

Gloucester 19 Bath 24 (after extra-time)

By Andrew Baldock

BATH reached their first English cup final for nine years with a sensational extra-time victory over Gloucester at Kingsholm.

Just when a pulsating Powergen Cup semi-final looked to be heading for a drop-goal shoot out, Bath wing Andy Williams struck gold.

Welshman Williams’ solo try in the final minute of extra-time, a kick and chase effort that was only awarded after referee Ashley Rowden consulted with the video referee Geoff Warren, gave Bath victory and secured an April 16 showdown with Leeds.

It will be Bath’s 11th cup final and they have won the previous 10.

Gloucester, who had given their all in a blood and thunder encounter, were left crestfallen after the game went into overtime, tied at 19-19.

Bath wing Joe Maddock scored a try for the visitors, with fly-half Chris Malone kicking 14 points, but Gloucester speedster Seti Kiole’s 62nd-minute touchdown, plus 14 Henry Paul points, meant the teams could not be separated at full-time.

Gloucester suffered a late blow when their Welsh international hooker Mefin Davies withdrew because of a thumb injury just seven days before unbeaten RBS 6 Nations title contenders Wales tackle Scotland at Murrayfield.

Gloucester scorers: Tries: Kiole. Cons: Paul. Pens: Paul 4.

GLOUCESTER: Goodridge, Garvey, Simpson-Daniel, Fanolua, Kiole, Paul, Gomarsall, Wood, Curnier, Powell, Eustace, Brown, Buxton, Hazell, Balding.

Replacements: Sigley for Wood (80), Cornwell for Hazell (90), Boer for Balding (24).

Bath scorers: Tries: Maddock, A. Williams. Cons: Malone. Pens: Malone 4.

BATH: Perry, A. Williams, Higgins, Barkley, Maddock, Malone, Walshe, Stevens, Mears, Bell, Borthwick, Grewcock, Lewis, Scaysbrook, Fea’unati.

Replacements: Booth for Maddock (80), Wood for Walshe (90), Barnes for Bell (87), Delve for Lewis (71).