Heineken Cup round-up:Connacht broke their duck in the competition in sensational fashion at The Sportsground in Galway tonight, beating Harlequins 9-8 and doing Ulster a huge favour in the process as they are now qualified for the quarter-finals ahead of tomorrow's clash away to Clermont Auvergne.

In a second stunning result in Pool Six, Gloucester scored four tries to beat Toulouse 34-24 at Kingsholm, a result that will see the French side having to travel in the quarter-finals.

Harlequins’ hopes were engulfed by a storming defensive display from Eric Elwood’s side as they made history in a typically wild night in Galway.

The rain-soaked crowd witnessed an intense battle between a home team hunting for their first victory in 15 matches, dating back to September 23rd, and the English Premiership leaders.

Niall O’Connor notched three penalty goals to push Connacht into a 9-5 half-time lead, however the hosts failed to take full advantage of a strong wind.

Sam Smith’s eighth-minute try showed Harlequins’ capabilities with ball in hand, but a single penalty from Nick Evans was all they could muster despite dominating possession and territory after the break.

The visitors elected to play into the elements in the first half, and pressure at scrum time on James Johnston yielded an early penalty which O’Connor stuck it over.

Quins replied in brilliant fashion, using their big ball carriers to build momentum in the 22 before Evans’s flat pass sent Smith diving over in the left corner past Fetu’u Vainikolo’s limp challenge.

Evans had to improvise after the ball fell off the kicking tee during his run-up, drop-kicking his conversion which spiralled wide in the difficult wind.

Johnston was pinged for another binding offence when play resumed, allowing O’Connor a long range shot which he sent over with aplomb.

Despite being starved of possession, Connacht went 9-5 ahead when O’Connor swung over a left-sided penalty after some mishandling from Quins.

In a tense second quarter, Connacht survived a couple of five-metre scrums but they failed to get their attack going, forcing passes as they tried frantically to take advantage of an increasing wind.

Connacht enjoyed some late territory, a close range surge from Mike McCarthy helping to set up O’Connor’s fourth shot at goal, yet the outhalf managed to screw his easiest kick to the right and wide.

It was all Harlequins when the second half got under way, Ugo Monye just failing to hold Evans’s bouncing grubber kick as Connacht’s defence was immediately tested.

Connacht maintained a high tackle rate, with a doughty scrum and feisty work in contact from man-of-the-match John Muldoon and McCarthy continuing to frustrate O’Shea’s charges.

Having turned down an earlier kickable penalty, Evans was called upon to add three points to the Quins tally after Muldoon infringed at a ruck.

The New Zealander did just that, making it a single-point game with 20 minutes left on the clock. It seemed enough time for the English outfit to prevail.

They had the upper hand in the scrum. Another good shunt, 13 minutes from time, gave Evans the opportunity to kick Quins ahead, but the Kiwi misjudged the wind and Connacht drew breath.

Energised by their ability to hold on to that slender lead, the hosts edged closer to their first Heineken Cup win thanks to a combination of sterling work up front and unforced errors by Quins.

Danny Care and company were unable to find space against a tiring but suffocating Connacht defence and they held their nerve to end that losing run.

Gloucester floored Heineken Cup heavyweights Toulouse after a brilliant performance inspired by their try-hungry backs.

Fullback Jonny May led the way with a double, while England wing Charlie Sharples and Fijian flanker Akapusi Qera also crossed and outhalf Freddie Burns booted 14 points.

Four-time European champions Toulouse, though, still progress to the quarter-finals as Pool Six winners.

Wing Timoci Matanavou touched down twice for the visitors, while skipper Thierry Dusautoir scored early on and outhalf Lionel Beauxis added three conversions and a penalty.