Challenge Cup: Connacht have the chance to resurrect their European campaign after two unexpected results threw them a lifeline yesterday.

With their European Challenge Cup dreams all but dead in the water on Friday, after their shock 28-24 defeat to Catania, Newcastle did them a favour on Saturday by disposing of Pool Four runners-up Brive, giving Connacht the last qualifying spot.

Ironically, Connacht will now meet Newcastle in the quarter-finals after the form book was overturned again yesterday when Pool One runners-up Bristol were defeated at home by Narbonne.

As a result, Connacht moved from eighth seed to seventh, thereby avoiding a meeting with Gloucester, who finished unbeaten in their pool matches.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley, "still in shock" from having lost to Catania, welcomed the news that his side would meet Newcastle.

"If we had won then we were looking at London Irish which would have been an occasion - an Irish event in England. However we are lucky to be there at all given that we lost in Catania so from that point of view beggars can't be choosers.

"We deserve to be out. The only redeeming feature is that we beat Montpellier twice and Worcester at home, so over the six games we did what was required. However, having put 50 points on Catania in Galway, to go and lose is beyond belief."

Bradley believes any of the top four qualifying sides , Gloucester, Newcastle, London Irish and Northampton, would be difficult opponents, but also beatable, particularly now that Connacht have been given a "massive wake-up call".

"We have had a very lucky escape and it was an embarrassing result for us which is still hard to fathom given our performances in December and that our defence has always been very strong.

"Against Catania our tackling was poor and we did not compete on the ground. Against Ulster we created two chances, scored twice and defended well; against Catania were created at least 14 clear-cut chances, scored five times, and defended poorly."

Captain Andrew Farley and several players were en route to Galway after a 6am departure from Catania on Saturday when they heard the news of their reprieve.

"I don't think any of us had been able to sleep since we lost and we were getting constant updates from Newcastle on the way home. There was huge relief and excitement, because we know how important it is for Connacht and the fans," he said.

The Newcastle game is scheduled for the first weekend in April.