Newport Gwent Dragons reached the European Challenge Cup semi-finals on Saturday by knocking out holders Gloucester 23-21 with the winning try coming just four minutes from time.
Replacement scrum-half Charlie Davies grabbed the decisive score to overturn a 21-18 deficit to add to five penalties from fly-half Dorian Jones and one from full-back Carl Meyer.
Ben Morgan and Stevie McColl scored tries for Gloucester, with skipper Greig Laidlaw kicking three penalties and a conversion.
Victory for the Dragons gave them a semi-final spot against French Top 14 side Montpellier.
“By winning away, we’ve got the monkey off our backs,” said Newport coach Kingsley Jones.
Dragons were rewarded for their positive approach when they chose to go for the drive from a line-out instead of kicking a penalty to draw level.
“It was a big call from our skipper (Lewis Evans) but we came here to win and we didn’t want to settle for a draw,” said try-scorer Davies.
“At first they defended the line-out well, even though we had put all our backs in. I then heard a call to go to the blind side and I used my size to get over.
“No-one backed us to win here but I’m elated to score the winning try and I’m very happy for the team as a whole.”
On Friday, Montpellier reached their first European semi-final when they defeated hosts Sale Sharks 25-19.
The reliable boot of Benoit Paillaugue proved crucial for Montpellier as he kicked five second half penalties to help turn round an 11-10 half-time deficit.
Former England fly-half Danny Cipriani kicked two first half penalties to add to winger Tom Brady’s try.
Montpellier, on a run of six successive wins in Top 14, had also grabbed a first period try through Paul Willemse.
But Paillaugue’s deadly boot was enough for Montpellier despite a late try for Sam James.
Later Saturday, the other quarter-finals will feature Grenoble against Connacht and Harlequins taking on London Irish.
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