JOHAN Ackermann declared a sense of satisfaction after Gloucester reached their third European Challenge Cup final in four seasons.

The Gloucester head coach's first campaign in charge also sees his team close to securing Champions Cup qualification for next term.

And they will now face Cardiff Blues or Pau in the Challenge Cup final at Bilbao's San Mames Stadium on May 11, aiming to reclaim a crown last won in 2015.

"I know that the club has been quite successful in this competition, so if we didn't do well I suppose it would have been a step back," said Ackermann, following a 33-12 semi-final victory over Newcastle at Kingsholm.

"In sport, anything can happen on the day.

"We are pleased we got over the winning line, although it wasn't a perfect performance. We made a lot of mistakes and were a bit indecisive in terms of our counter-attack.

"The try we scored just before half-time was quite crucial in terms of taking a little fire out of them. Our composure was the pleasing thing.

"There are definitely positive signs, but if you look at tonight, we are not there yet in terms of where we want to be. We have still got a long way to go.

"There are a lot of areas for us to grow as a team. It is satisfying we have reached a final, and I said to the boys to enjoy the next two days and next week (against Bath) is a totally different focus."

Beaten Challenge Cup finalists last season, Gloucester established a 10-point half-time lead through tries by wing Tom Marshall and hooker Motu Matu'u following an early Scott Lawson touchdown for Newcastle.

Fly-half Billy Burns added Gloucester's third try early in the second half, and although Lawson claimed a second score, the home side had done enough as substitute scrum-half Ben Vellacott sealed victory through a late touchdown.

Centre Billy Twelvetrees kicked three penalties and two conversions, with Joel Hodgson booting one Newcastle conversion.

It meant more European heartache for Newcastle, who have now lost on all five of their Challenge Cup semi-final appearances, although a potential Aviva Premiership play-off place and Champions Cup qualification has always been prioritised.

Newcastle rugby director Dean Richards said: "You have got to take your chances, and we didn't take our chances. We also weren't accurate with some of the stuff we did.

"If you are turning ball over or you are not accurate in the contact area, it just won't go your way, which is what happened.

"We are going in the right direction. Who knows where we will end up? But the objective every year is just to improve on where we were the year before, and we seem to be doing that at the moment.

"The next game is the biggest game, and ultimately we will end up where we end up (in the Premiership)."