Pau guaranteed a home quarter-final in the European Challenge Cup after defeating Gloucester 34-24 at Kingsholm to finish top of the Pool Three standings.

Tries from Steffon Armitage, Frank Halai, Lourens Adriaanse and Daniel Ramsay, allied to 14 points from the boot of Colin Slade, helped the French Top 14 side maintain their 100 per cent record in the group stage.

Gloucester’s progression through to the last eight was already guaranteed before kick-off as at least one of the three best second-placed teams, but they would have clinched top spot with victory on Friday night.

They went ahead through Jeremy Thrush’s converted try after 15 minutes but Slade first split the posts with two penalties before adding the extras to former England number eight Armitage’s try on the stroke of half-time.

Billy Twelvetrees’ penalty reduced the arrears five minutes after the resumption but Halai and Adriaanse burst over the line in quick succession to put the visitors 27-10 ahead on the hour.

Gloucester replacements Callum Braley and Jake Polledri touched down in the final quarter of the match with converted tries but Ramsay dotted down in the 68th-minute in between – and Slade was once again on target with his subsequent kick – for a bonus-point score to ensure there would be no late drama.