Protheroe magic sets up Randall for winner

Gloucester…40

Wasps…29

FLY-HALF Lloyd Evans was instrumental as Gloucester United overturned a 21-10 deficit against Wasps to book their place in the A League final.

The former England U20s playmaker scored one of the Cherry Whites' four tries in a personal tally of 22 points at Kingsholm with Darren Dawidiuk, Cameron Orr and Harry Randall also going over.

“We're unbeaten at Kingsholm this season and it shows what a strong team we are,” said scrumhalf Randall.

“We have come back strong in the second half before this season and the boys dug dip this time. It was an awesome performance.” Evans opened the scoring for United, a try he converted himself, but Wasps were quickly level when Guy Armitage fed Brendan Macken to get over the line.

Craig Hampson then forced his way over before a penalty try put the visitors further ahead but they then saw prop David Langley sent to the sin bin for not retreating 10 metres.

Wasps were 21-16 up at halftime and, after a further penalty for the visitors, Dawidiuk brought Gloucester back within a point. Orr then touched down against the base of the post for the Cherry & Whites and Evans' conversion moved them 30-24 ahead.

Armitage got Wasps back to within a point when he went over following a driving maul and it looked set to be a tense finale. But a moment of magic from Mat Protheroe saw him give a quick show before stepping through a gap and offloading to Randall for the decisive score.