Connacht completed a stunning recovery to pip Bridgend and keep their unbeaten Celtic League record intact and make sure of a place in the quarter-finals.

The Irishmen overturned a 17-point deficit and owed victory to a controlled display from their abrasive pack that wore down the hosts.

Bridgend's hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals now lie in ruins after suffering a third consecutive defeat.

The Ravens had surged ahead through a superb counter-attacking try from Tongan flanker Maama Molitika.

They built on that when British Lion Dafydd James made a storming run to score a brilliant touchdown by the posts.

The visitors lost skipper Tim Allnutt with a serious knee injury but it only served to spur his team-mates into action.

First a well-worked set move led to Wayne Munn crossing in the corner.

Connacht then proceeded to dominate the second half and Bridgend's possession completely dried up.

After Eric Elwood had landed a brace of penalties, the visitors worked an overlap for Darren Yapp to cross out wide.

Bridgend kept their noses in front thanks to a penalty hat-trick by Craig Warlow.

But it was not enough as the Irishmen punished a mistake with Elwood and Yapp linking to send full-back Mark McHugh over for the winning score.

Bridgend: Anthony Carter; Craig Richards, Gareth Thomas (capt), Dafydd James, Richard Mustoe; Craig Warlow, Sililo Martens; Christian Loader, Gareth Williams, Chris Horsman, Deiniol Jones, Andy Moore, Maama Molitika, Cory Harris, Nathan Budgett.
Reps: Huw Harries, John Funnell, Ben Phillips, Phil Booth, Jon Thiel, Richard Bryan, Ryan Jones.

Connacht: Mark McHugh; Ted Robinson, Darren Yapp, Tim Allnutt (capt), Wayne Munn; Eric Elwood, Chris Keane; Dan McFarland, Jerry Flannery, Peter Bracken, Damien Browne, Rowan Frost, Colm Rigney, John O'Sullivan, Eric Peters.
Reps: Ronan McCormack, Marnus Uijs, Michael Swift, Paul Neville, Eoin Reddan, Shane Moore, James Norton.

Referee: Robin Goodliffe (Sheffield).