Connacht 0 Pontypridd 40
Connacht¹s one hundred per cent Celtic League record was broken by Pontypridd, and with it the Irish side's pole position in Pool B with a devastating display at the Galway Sports Ground.
The Welsh side simply dominated the match after opening their scoring account on the 29th minute with a Neil Jenkins penalty.Uncharacteristically Connacht lost all their shape and organisation to allow Pontypridd to notchfour trys and bonus point to leapfrog the province into the top spot.
A man of the match performance from Brett Davey helped pave the way for Pontypridd's five-try haul.
The full-back, supported by the strong running of centre John Bryant and wing Emyr Lewis, carved open a continuous path through a porous Connacht defence, while the pack did its job up front, led by number eight Michael Owen.
After Elwood and full-back Mark McHugh missed two early penalty chances, Connacht's destruction began with the two tries late in the first half as Pontypridd finished with a flourish.
Having taken 29 minutes before breaking a scoreless deadlock with a Jenkins penalty from the 22, Pontypridd then ran in two tries in a four-minute period.
Connacht can only have themselves to blame for they were guilty of making too many unforced errors. The first try came from a central midfield knock-on, and Pontypridd's John Bryant took advantage with a surging break before backs and forwards combined for right wing Gareth Wyatt to dive in at the right corner.
Four minutes later Eric Elwood¹s attempted drop goal was run out of defence, Emyr Lewis' kick ahead bouncing kindly for Davey, who off-loaded to Bryant to run in from the 22 untouched.
The Welsh side continued the rout soon after the break following a Jenkins' 44th-minute penalty. Davey was once again instrumental, sending Emyr Lewis in on the left.
Five minutes later Pontypridd earned their bonus point when Wyatt notched his second try after Davey again broke through the Connacht cover from inside his own 22.
A 63rd minute try to Robert Sidoli completed the haul and Davey sealed a devastating display with a drop goal to ensure their qualification for the quarter-finals.