Gloucester stunned Harlequins with their first win over them at The Twickenham Stoop for 13 years to give their Premiership play-off hopes a big boost.

Two tries in five first half minutes from Jason Woodward and Ruan Ackermann set them on their way with Tom Marshall and Danny Cipriani scoring in the second half in an outstanding performance.

Only Nathan Earle's late consolation try for Harlequins denied them a shutout.

The bonus-point victor saw Gloucester open up a seven-point gap on fifth-placed Sale and close the point on third-placed Harlequins to two points with six games remaining.

Johan Ackermann’s side have now beaten the three other sides in the top four during the Six Nations period as they bounced back from their defeat to Bristol.

Joe Marchant of Harlequins breaks away from Franco Mostert

Gloucester had to soak up some early pressure from Harlequins before taking the lead from their first entry into the opposition 22 after eight minutes.

Full-back Jason Woodward collected the ball out wide and fended off the challenge from Mike Brown and crossed the line. Billy Twelvetrees converted in the strong wind.

Another thrilling counter-attack saw Gloucester score their second. Ollie Thorley made a sensational break from his own half  and once they were in the 22 Gloucester were composed with Cipriani throwing the long pass to send Ruan Ackermann over the line.

Twelvetrees again added the extras and they led 14-0 after 13 minutes.

Tom Marshall was sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knock on as he dived towards the ball five metres from his own try line as Quins went close but Gloucester managed this period superbly to ensure they didn’t concede any points.

 Gloucester won a penalty in front of the posts five minutes before half-time with Twelvetrees extending the lead to 17-0.

Harlequins were reduced to 14 men 11 minutes into the second half when Joe Marchant was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Thorley.

Gloucester capitalised immediately as they kicked to the corner and from the lineout they used the extra man to work it out wide, Woodward floating a pass for Marshall to finish this time.

The bonus-point try arrived with 15 minutes still left. It came from a five-metre scrum with scrum-half Willi Heinz taking the ball on the blindside  and feeding Cipriani, who has been linked with a move to Harlequins, to score. Twelvetrees added the extras.

Gloucester defended magnificently, winning a penalty from one five-metre scrum against the head, but Quins finally scored with five minutes left when Earle kicked ahead and dotted down on the line.

Joe Marchant of Harlequins breaks away from Franco Mostert

Harlequins: M Brown; N Earlie, J Marchant, F Saili, R Chisolm; J Lang, D Lewis; L Boyce, E Elia, W Collier; M Symons, J Horwill (cc), J Clifford, C Robshaw (cc), A Dombrandt.

Replacements: D Ward, J Marler, P Swainston, G Merrick, J Chisolm, N Saunders, M Smith, A Alofa.

Gloucester: J Woodward; T Marshall, B Twelvetrees, M Atkinson, O Thorley; D Cipriani, W Heinz (c); J Hohneck, J Hanson,  F Balmain; E Slater, F Mostert; R Ackermann, J Krielm B Morgan.

Replacements: F Marais, K Traynor, G Denman, F Clarke, L Ludlow, C Braley, O Williams, M Banahan.

Referee: Wayne Barnes.

Star man: Jason Woodward.