Blues record remarkable cup victory

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The Welsh side played for 53 minutes of a fierce encounter with 14 men after their international wing Tom James was sent off, but Gloucester could not make their advantage count as substitute lock Bradley Davies powered over for the winning try four minutes from time.

Full-back Leigh Halfpenny kicked three penalties and a conversion and Gloucester had to settle for a losing bonus point despite leading 12-6 through four penalties by Olly Barkley.

The Blues, unbeaten Pool Six leaders, marched on following a fifth successive win and, if they collect an anticipated bonus point success at home to Italian whipping boys Calvisano next Friday, they will progress as top seeds.

Gloucester's quarter-final progress is now in the lap of the gods.

They effectively need a bonus-point win against 2006 Heineken Cup runners-up Biarritz in France, but will still have to rely on other results going their way.

The most likely scenario is a damaging pool stage exit, yet they could have few complaints after the Blues outmuscled them through a performance which bristled with passion and endeavour.

James was dismissed in the 27th minute for butting Gloucester hooker Olivier Azam, leaving his team a mountain to climb and potentially dashing his hopes of challenging for a place in Wales' RBS 6 Nations squad, which is announced on Monday.

Barkley's penalties looked to have tilted the balance in Gloucester's favour, his efforts coming just four days after he was dropped from the elite England squad by manager Martin Johnson.

But the Blues never threw in the towel during an attritional contest dominated by the packs on a heavy surface.