Gloucester 23-13 Ospreys: Welsh side's European semi-final hopes dashed in disappointing defeat

The Ospreys' Challenge Cup campaign came to a disappointing end as they were knocked out in the quarter-finals after a 23-13 defeat to Gloucester at Kingsholm.

A week on from their first-ever European knockout win over Sale at the Brewery Field, there was to be no repeat as George Skivington's side simply had a little bit too much for the Ospreys.

Keelan Giles' first-half try and the boot of Owen Williams had given Toby Booth's side hope at the break, but a scoreless second-half extinguished any hopes of a place in the last four.

At times, it felt like the script from last week was being followed closely.

The Ospreys came to play early on, but it was Gloucester - like Sale in Bridgend - who had the better of the opening exchanges.

Like their Gallagher Premiership counterparts last week, they would be rewarded with the opening points early on. Full-back Santiago Carreras' penalty breaking the deadlock after seven minutes.

As the Ospreys' usual staples - scrum and lineout - faltered at Kingsholm, it was the Cherry and Whites who looked likeliest to trouble the scorers next.

Wales centre Max Llewellyn had the visiting defence scrambling after powering onto a deft tip-on pass. The Ospreys survived on that occasion, but the signs felt ominous.

And then, against the run of play, the Ospreys created something from virtually nothing. Full-back Jack Walsh gathered a loose chip from Adam Hastings at full tilt, continuing at that speed across the pitch as a gap in the Gloucester chase opened up.

Bursting through, he found in-form winger Giles outside him, who raced away to score the evening's opening try.

Carreras and Ospreys fly-half Williams would trade penalties, but Gloucester's advantage at the set-piece meant the pressure was