The Ospreys' Challenge Cup campaign came to a disappointing end as they were knocked out in the quarter-finals after a 23-13 defeat to Gloucester at Kingsholm.
A week on from their first-ever European knockout win over Sale at the Brewery Field, there was to be no repeat as George Skivington's side simply had a little bit too much for the Ospreys.
Keelan Giles' first-half try and the boot of Owen Williams had given Toby Booth's side hope at the break, but a scoreless second-half extinguished any hopes of a place in the last four.
At times, it felt like the script from last week was being followed closely.
The Ospreys came to play early on, but it was Gloucester - like Sale in Bridgend - who had the better of the opening exchanges.
Like their Gallagher Premiership counterparts last week, they would be rewarded with the opening points early on. Full-back Santiago Carreras' penalty breaking the deadlock after seven minutes.
As the Ospreys' usual staples - scrum and lineout - faltered at Kingsholm, it was the Cherry and Whites who looked likeliest to trouble the scorers next.
Wales centre Max Llewellyn had the visiting defence scrambling after powering onto a deft tip-on pass. The Ospreys survived on that occasion, but the signs felt ominous.
And then, against the run of play, the Ospreys created something from virtually nothing. Full-back Jack Walsh gathered a loose chip from Adam Hastings at full tilt, continuing at that speed across the pitch as a gap in the Gloucester chase opened up.
Bursting through, he found in-form winger Giles outside him, who raced away to score the evening's opening try.
Carreras and Ospreys fly-half Williams would trade penalties, but Gloucester's advantage at the set-piece meant the pressure was always on the visitors.
Moments after Adam Beard and the Ospreys pack superbly shut down one driving maul near their own line, the away pack had no answer to another powerful shove from the Gloucester pack just after half-an-hour. This time, the home side rumbled over in the corner, with hooker Seb Blake scoring.
The boot of Carreras pushed Gloucester a little further ahead, before Williams reeled them back in a touch before the break - ensuring it was just a one-point deficit at half-time
However, Gloucester's dominance carried through to the second-half, with Carreras' metronomic boot pushing them further ahead. When the Ospreys had a rare chance for points, Williams' effort from the tee struck the upright.
Soon, a one-point gap was seven heading into the final quarter.
Another Carreras penalty made it a two-score game heading into the final 10 minutes, ensuring the Ospreys were up against it to save their European hopes.
However, on a night when very little went in their favour, there never seemed much danger of that and so it proved as the Ospreys crashed out with even troubling the scorers in the second-half.
Gloucester: Santi Carreras; Jonny May, Max Llewellyn, Seb Atkinson, Jake Morris; Adam Hastings, Stephen Varney; Jamal Ford-Robinson, Seb Blake, Kirill Gotovtsev, Freddie Clarke, Freddie Thomas, Ruan Ackermann (capt), Lewis Ludlow, Zach Mercer.
Replacements: Santi Socino, Mayco Vivas, Fraser Balmain, Albert Tuisue, Jack Clement, Caolan Engelfield, Charlie Atkinson, Chris Harris.
Ospreys: Jack Walsh; Luke Morgan, Keiran Williams, Owen Watkin, Keelan Giles; Owen Williams, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Gareth Thomas, Sam Parry, Tom Botha, James Ratti, Adam Beard, Harri Deaves, Justin Tipuric (capt), Morgan Morris.
Replacements: Lewis Lloyd, Nicky Smith, Rhys Henry, Huw Sutton, Morgan Morse, Luke Davies, Dan Edwards, Max Nagy.
Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra)
Assistant referees: Tual Trainini (Fra) and Jeremy Rozier (Fra)
TMO: Denis Grenouillet (Fra)
Key Events
Full-time: Gloucester 23-13 Ospreys
A tough night for the Ospreys as their European hopes come to an end.
In truth, they created little on the night - with their set-piece failing them when it mattered.
Going nowhere
90 seconds.
Ospreys need two scores.
Now or never.
Unfotunately, camped in their own 22, it looks like never.
Nothing left to give
Ospreys just don't seem to have anything left to throw.
There's a few phases around midfield, but it ends with a forward pass by Adam Beard.
Missed chance
Ospreys showing some decent signs in attack, with a few carriers making a dent.
However, it comes to nothing as the ball slips out of Owen Watkin's hands.
Very frustrating.
Up against it
Can the Ospreys save their European hopes here?
They've got it all to do.
Penalty Gloucester! 23-13
Ospreys scrum in their own 22.
But the penalty goes against the head.
This is turning into a painful night for the Ospreys.
Carreras makes no mistake and Toby Booth's side need something special now.
Frustration growing
Frustration boiling over a bit here.
Gloucester have the penalty for offside so dab a grubber through.
Owen Williams gathers it and isn't happy with the hit he receives.
Seems to be a warning to Ospreys captain Justin Tipuric from referee Pierre Brousset just after that.
Penalty Gloucester! 20-13
Gloucester into the red-zone and carrying hard.
They botch one opportunity, but they'll have another as the Ospreys are pinged for offside.
Carreras opts for the posts, as Gloucester look to make it a seven-point game.
No mistake from the full-back.
Changes
Gareth Thomas and Harri Deaves off. Nicky Smith and Morgan Morse on.
Deaves has been everywhere once again.
Can Smith turn the Ospreys' fortunes at the scrum around?
Missed penalty
Great break down the right wing by Luke Morgan and the Ospreys are on the attack.
Gloucester probably guilty of killing the ball, despite the shouts from the home fans.
Pierre Brousset just gives the penalty.
Owen Williams lines it up but hits the uprights.
Everything going wrong
This is getting frustrating for the Ospreys.
Luke Morgan doesn't get a high tackle penalty when Gotovtsev rides up in the tackle.
Then, Owen Williams fires a pass into Keiran Williams' shoulder.
Nothing is going right for them.
Zach Mercer makes a huge carry, before the Ospreys spill an up-and-under forward.
Penalty Gloucester! 17-13
Ospreys' discipline is becoming an issue here.
They're pinged on the edge of their 22, much to the frustration of some of their players.
It allows Carreras to stroke over an easy one in front of the sticks.
Gloucester's kicking game working well
Ospreys pinged for going off their feet at the ruck after Walsh was smashed from a high ball.
Gloucester's kicking game causing the Ospreys problems this evening.
Superb jackal
Superb jackal from Harri Deaves.
Gloucester work the ball nicely inot midfield from a scrum, but the Ospreys back-row times it beautifully to win the penalty.
Just brilliant.
Scrappy kicks
Game gets a little loose, with Tipuric's clearance kick bobbling past Carreras.
The full-back rushes his own kick, giving Walsh time to pick his spot.
But his effort is too long, going dead.
Breakdown penalty
Ospreys opt to run a kick back through Jack Walsh, but they're pinged at the breakdown.
Perhaps just a little too ready to run everything back in such a tight game.
Half-time: Gloucester 14-13 Ospreys
All to play for in the second-half here at Kingsholm.
Penalty Ospreys! 14-13
Can the Ospreys end the first-half with something?
They've got a penalty near halfway, which Owen Williams sticks into the Gloucester 22.
First lineout is solid, with Gloucester pinged for pulling down the maul.
Corner or points?
Wisely, the Ospreys opt for the posts.
Williams slots it on the angle and it's a one-point game at half-time.
Lineout woes
Ospreys lineout still struggling.
Tipuric taps it backwards, but nowhere near Reuben Morgan-Williams - with the scrum-half having to scramble to the loose ball.
Penalty Gloucester! 14-10
Gloucester are on top here.
Owen Williams does well to escape one tackle as he takes a high ball, but the Ospreys are pinged at the breakdown.
Pierre Brousset then marches them back 10 metres, presumably for dissent.
The Ospreys aren't getting along with the official so far this evening.
Carreras nails the penalty.
Try Gloucester! 11-10
This time, Gloucester have the penalty advantage as their maul gets rolling.
They don't need it.
They roll over in the corner, hooker Seb Blake being the scorer.
Carreras' conversion drifts wide.
Scrum concerns
Big shove from Gloucester and the Ospreys are pinged near their own line.
That's another concern.
Gloucester go to the lineout again, five metres out.
Huge lineout defence
Gloucester look to get their driving maul going five metres out, but credit to the Ospreys, they stop it from going anywhere.
They get the scrum as it hits the deck.
Superb work from the Ospreys pack.
Gloucester in the red-zone
Few concerns for the Ospreys here.
Jack Walsh has misjudged another high ball, but Keelan Giles bails him out this time.
From the box-kick, Harri Deaves is in front of the kicker - allowing Gloucester to stick it in the corner.
Another not straight lineout
Gloucester look to go wide, but spill it forward.
Keiran Williams kicks it forward, but Gloucester do well to get back and touch it down in-goal.
Gloucester's goal-line drop-out bounces into touch, but, frustratingly, Parry's throw is again not straight.
Penalty Ospreys! 6-10
Stephen Varney sticks it out on the full as Gloucester fail to exit.
Ospreys go through the phases in the 22, before the home side are pinged for offside.
Pretty easy one for Owen Williams.
Penalty Gloucester! 6-7
Looks like a good shove by the Ospreys against the head, but Gloucester get the ball away at the scrum.
Can't have been that good a shove, as Pierre Broussett goes back for a penalty - with the Ospreys front-row standing up.
Another simple strike for Carreras.
Knock-on
Gloucester's kicking game finding its range a little.
Varney sticks up a high ball that comes down short of the Ospreys' 22 and Walsh can't gather cleanly.
Try Ospreys! 3-7
Good carry from Max Llewellyn off a deft tip-on pass and the Ospreys are scrambling in their own 22.
However, a superb steal allows the away side to steal.
From the return kick, Jack Walsh spots some space, hits the gap and draws the last man to put Keelan Giles over.
A superb score!
Owen Williams converts.
