Fly-half Adam Hastings notched up a personal tally of 15 points as Gloucester Rugby routed Castres Olympique 35-5 to secure home advantage in the EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16.
In an exciting first half, both teams crossed once as Gloucester Rugby centre Seb Atkinson opened the scoring in the eighth minute while Castres Olympique replacement Josaia Raisuqe went over at the end of the half.
The difference was the boot of Hastings, who kicked a conversion and a penalty to leave the Gallagher Premiership club in the lead by five after fly-half Pierre Popelin could not add the extras for the visitors.
Gloucester Rugby struck first in the second period too, lock Freddie Clarke dotting down with a brilliant, unorthodox kick and finish, Hastings again accurate.
Hastings then added his second penalty, and Castres Olympique only got smaller and smaller in Gloucester Rugby’s rear-view mirror as Hastings crossed for his own try.
Albert Tuisue soon followed him over the whitewash, as the hosts punished a 14-man Castres Olympique after replacement Esteban Talalua was sent to the bin.
Full-back Santiago Carreras converted Hastings’ try but not Tuisue’s, although he did a penalty with the clock in the red to tie up the win.
Castres Olympique could still make it out of Pool 3, but that depends on what Black Lion can do against ASM Clermont Auvergne.
Scorers:
Gloucester Rugby: Tries: Seb Atkinson, Freddie Clarke, Adam Hastings, Albert Tuisue. Conversions: Adam Hastings (2), Santiago Carreras.
Castres Olympique: Try: Josaia Raisuqe.
Teams:
Gloucester Rugby: 15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Jonny May, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 Caolan Englefield, 8 Zach Mercer, 7 Ruan Ackermann (c), 6 Jack Clement, 5 Matias Alemanno, 4 Freddie Clarke, 3 Fraser Balmain, 2 George McGuigan, 1 Jamal Ford-Robinson. Replacements: 16 Seb Blake, 17 Harry Elrington, 18 Ciaran Knight, 19 Albert Tuisue, 20 Lewis Ludlow, 21 Steve Varney, 22 Max Llewellyn, 23 Josh Hathaway.
Castres Olympique: 15 Geoffrey Palis, 14 Martin Laveau, 13 Adrien Seguret, 12 Andrea Cocagi, 11 Nathanael Hulleu, 10 Pierre Popelin, 9 Santiago Arata, 8 Abraham Papalii, 7 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 6. Mathieu Babillot (c), 5 Tom Staniforth, 4 Gauthier Maravat, 3 Aurelien Azar, 2 Gaetan Barlot, 1 Wayan de Benedittis. Replacements: 16 Pierre Colonna, 17 Antoine Tichit, 18 Esteban Talalua, 19 Florent Vanverberghe, 20 Yann Peysson, 21 Jeremy Fernandez, 22 Vilimoni Botitu, 23 Josaia Raisuqe