Cardiff reach European Challenge Cup final

LONDON: Cardiff Blues will play Gloucester in the European Challenge Cup final next month after the Welsh region beat Pau 16-10 in their semi-final on Saturday. Gareth Anscombe scored the opening try for Cardiff but that was cancelled out by a score from Pau’s former New Zealand international fly-half Colin Slade. Two Jarrod Evans penalties to one from Pau’s former All Black full-black Tom Taylor gave the hosts a 13-10 lead going into half-time. Evans kicked the only points of the second period as Cardiff held on to reach the final for the second time. The Welsh region won this competition in 2010, beating Jonny Wilkinson’s Toulon 28-21 in the final. Gloucester reached the final for the third time in four seasons with a 33-12 win over Newcastle. Gloucester lifted the trophy in 2006 and 2015 but were beaten by Stade Francais in last year’s final.