Ospreys’ pursuit of a maiden European semi-final ended for another season as ill-discipline and the boot of Argentine full back Santiago Carreras earnt Gloucester a 23-13 win at Kingsholm.

Ospreys scored the first try of the game through wing Keelan Giles and but Gloucester responded through a rolling maul try from hooker Seb Blake and 18 points from the boot of Carreras.

Ospreys made one change to the side which won 23-15 at home to Sale last weekend with Sam Parry fit enough to start, whilst the home side made four changes as Jake Morris, Adam Hastings, Jamal Ford-Robinson and Blake came in.

Gloucester scored the first points inside seven minutes, although Morgan Morris might have felt hard done by, he was deemed to put his hands beyond the ball in a ruck with Carreras obliging with the penalty from in front.

The visitors were guilty of compounding errors early on, Sam Parry’s not straight lineout throw followed up by a penalty, a kick off followed up by another infringement at the ruck and as a result Gloucester were able to piggy-back up the field consistently.

Just after 10 minutes Ospreys had their first meaningful opportunity to attack with a lineout inside the Gloucester 22, but the visitors were punished for an early jump and the Cherry and Whites cleared their lines.

Gloucester had definitely started the stronger, but it would be Ospreys who would grab the first try after 14 minutes.

Adam Hastings’ dink in behind the visitors’ defence was too far and taken by Jack Walsh at pace with the fly-half-cum-fullback beating two defenders before freeing Giles down the left wing, who rounded the defence and scored under the posts.

The Welsh side were living primarily on the counterattack with Gloucester’s ball carrying duo of Zach Mercer and Wales international Max Llewellyn causing them problems.

Ospreys are known for their strength at set-piece but after the lineout had malfunctioned twice, the scrum was penalised, with the Ospreys front row penalised for standing up, Carreras adding his second penalty.

It wouldn’t stay as a one-point game however, as three minutes later former Gloucester man Owen Williams responded with a penalty of his own and the Ospreys nearly had a second breakaway try soon after.

The ball ricocheted to Kieran Williams and his toe through miraculously stayed on the field of play but Seb Atkinson was first to the ball in the in-goal.

Gloucester turned down a kick at goal after Harri Deaves was called for offside choosing to kick to the corner but Ospreys did well to wrap up their five-metre drive. However, from the ensuing scrum Ospreys were again penalised with Argentine Carreras returning to the corner.

This time and with a penalty advantage, the drive proved decisive as hooker Blake crashed over from the back of the maul to bring a raucous Kingsholm to their feet.

The home side were getting the better of territory and possession and when Owen Williams was penalised for holding on, they were marched back ten metres following back chat to the referee from captain Justin Tipuric, putting the kick well within the range of Carreras who added to his points total.

The visitors were given one final chance to attack before the half time hooter with a lineout inside the Gloucester 22 but after the home side transgressed. Tipuric asked his fly-half to go for the posts rather than kick to the corner again and with the clock in the red Owen Williams succeeded leaving the scores at 14-13 for half time

Ospreys weren’t getting any luck, epitomised by Walsh’s kick at the start of the second half which caused Stephen Varney to fall over as he attempted to catch it but the ball bounced to the dead ball area instead of the touchline for a would-be 50:22.

Carreras added another three points with fewer than 10 minutes gone in the second half after Owen Williams was penalised for not rolling away.

Williams had the opportunity to reduce the deficit back to one point but dragged his penalty and hit the far post after Lewis Ludlow went off his feet following a searing Luke Morgan break from a turnover. That would be punished as Carreras converted his fifth penalty with 20 minutes remaining.

Gloucester were continuing to grow into the game with captain Ruan Ackermann and Mercer continuously making yards in attack and Ospreys committing repeated infringements in almost all aspects of the game.

After another uncharacteristic scrum penalty Carreras added his sixth penalty which crucially increased the lead over a converted try.

Ospreys had one final opportunity with the seconds dying but Morgan Morris’ pass was intercepted by Jonny May who would have run the length were it not for a tremendous cover tackle from Lewis Lloyd.

Gloucester: 23 (14) Try: Blake, Pens: Carreras x6.

Ospreys: 13 (13) Try: Giles, Con: O. Williams, Pens: O. Williams x2.

Gloucester Rugby: Carreras; May, Llewellyn (Harris 48mins), Atkinson, Morris; Hastings, Varney; Ford-Robinson (Vivas 61mins), Blake (Socino 61mins), Gotovtsev (Balmain 61mins), Clarke, Thomas (Tuisue 67mins), Ackermann, Ludlow, Mercer (Clement 67mins).

Ospreys: Walsh (Nagy 67mins); Morgan, K. Williams, Watkin, Giles; O. Williams (Edwards 75mins), Morgan-Williams (Davies 77mins); Thomas (Smith 58mins), Parry (Lloyd 67mins) Botha (Henry 67mins), Ratti (Sutton 75mins), Beard, Deaves (Morse 58mins), Tipuric, Morris.