Surrey were knocked out of the RFU National U20 Championship on Sunday, defeated 46-7 by holders Gloucestershire in their quarter-final at Old Emanuel RFC.
Gloucestershire scored six tries to Surrey's one to cruise into a home semi-final against Lancashire on April 18, with a showpiece final at Twickenham Stadium to play for.
Surrey trailed 18-0 at half-time to tries by centre Brett Turner and wing Reuben Haile, but hit back 15 minutes into the second half, when they caught the Gloucestershire defence short on numbers from a cross-field kick by Michael Channing to the right wing and Rudy Sanwell scored a try that Jack Cooke converted.
But it was temporary respite as Gloucestershire, unbeaten in this competition for the past three seasons, added four more tries through number eight Ben Sparks, prop Will Davis, lock Harris Gasson and centre Jack Hayes.
"We made a few mistakes, which helped a very good Gloucestershire side earn a deserved victory," said David Judd, chairman of Surrey Rugby's U20s.
"But our squad kept going right to the end, and the players' disappointment in losing was not as great as the disappointment that the team would no longer be playing together.
"That was an indication of the huge spirit the squad had developed together."
Surrey: Ross Thompson (Esher); Rudy Sanwell (Sutton & Epsom), Jack Cooke (Esher), George Hutchins (Guildford), Ross Fowles (Esher); Michael Channing (Richmond), George Pickerill (Esher); Tom Bristow (Bedford Academy), James Catton (Dorking), Will Lloyd (Sutton & Epsom), Nick Haigh (Dorking), Liam Edwards (Guildford), Max Rowson (Cranleigh), Oli Edwards (Effingham & Leatherhead, capt), Dave Thornton (Croydon).
Replacements: Luke Daws (Esher), Richard Lardner (Dorking), Adam Sowter (Richmond), Henry Mounsey (Cobham), Zak Crabb (Camberley), Ben Axten-Burrett (Harlequins Academy), Tom Porill (Guildford).
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