London Irish progressed into the semi-finals of the Championship Cup with a 27-17 win over Coventry.
A much-changed Exiles side fell behind early on but responded to go 17-7 up by half-time thanks to tries from Harry Elrington and Barney Maddison.
Ben Loader then burst to score after the restart, only for the game to be finely poised at 24-17 with five minutes to play.
However, a late Jacob Atkins penalty ensured the victory to set up a clash with Yorkshire Carnegie in the final four at Madejski Stadium with Ealing Trailfinders versus Cornish Pirates in the other half.
“The boys really worked hard,” said man-of-the-match Lovejoy Chawatama.
“Coventry were a good outfit, we knew that from minute one.
“There were 10-15 minutes in the game where we just had to defend and we kept working hard as a forward unit.”
Irish go to Bedford Blues in the league on Saturday (3pm).
LONDON IRISH: Tonks, Ojo, Fowlie, Williams, Loader (Hassell-Collins 77), Atkins, McKibbin (Steele 55), Elrington (Saulo 61), Fainga’a (Adams 61), Chawatama, Maddison (c), De Chaves (Twomey 55), Northcote-Green (Gilsenan 55), Curtis-Harris (Ioane 55), Treviranus.
Tries: Elrington (13), Maddison (19), Loader (62)
Cons: Atkins x3 (14,20,63)
Pens: Atkins x2 (37,76)
Yellow card: Maddison (80)
COVENTRY: Halaifonua, Bulumakau, Knox, Stevens, Bulumakau (Lewis 40), Maisey, Kessell (Flinn 67), Beech (Gibbons 61), Nilsen (Tolmie 52), Brighouse (Boulton 52), Jubb (Ram 56), Faleafa (Oram 3-11), Adams, Nutley, Peters (Oram 24).
Tries: A. Bulumakau (7), Nutley (75)
Cons: Maisey x2 (8,76)
Pen: Maisey (53)
Referee: Karl Dickson
Attendance: 1,021
