CELTIC LEAGUE Connacht (7) 14 Tries: Mostyn (2) Cons: Elwood (2) Dragons (19) 32 Tries: Brew, Montgomery, Luscombe, Warlow Cons:Montgomery (3) Pens: Montgomery (2) Att: 1,790

Percy Montgomery, Nathan Brew and Hal Luscombe crossed for early tries, two of which were converted by Montgomery, to put the Dragons in control.

Former Newport favourite Matt Mostyn inspired an unlikely Connacht comeback with two converted tries in each half.

But two Montgomery penalties took the Dragons clear and Craig Warlow added a late fourth try for the bonus point.

Backed by a strong wind, Dragons struck off a short lineout for Brew to cross after only five minutes.

Montgomery clipped over the conversion and tagged on the extras to his own effort just four minutes later, ghosting through a gap in the Connacht midfield.

Looking hungover from the disappointment of last Sunday's Parker Pen semi-final loss to NEC Harlequins, Connacht lapsed again in the 14th minute as opposition skipper Andy Marinos drew the cover for Luscombe to bomb over in the left corner.

Mostyn crossed for Connacht in the 18th minute, converted well inside the cross wind by Eric Elwood, but the home side were to end the first half 12 points in arrears at 19-7 down.

Poor defence from the Dragons allowed a hungry Mostyn a second try on 58 minutes, and with Elwood converting, the home side were suddenly only five points behind.

But Connacht infringed at a ruck 30 metres out from the home line, and Montgomery clipped over his first penalty.

A second penalty within sight of the final whistle moved the visitors into a 25-14 lead and fly-half Warlow clinched what could prove to be a crucial bonus-point.

Connacht: M Mostyn, T Robinson, D Yapp, S Moore, C McPhillips, E Elwood, C O'Loughlin, A Clarke, J Fogarty, P Bracken, D Browne, A Farley, P Neville, T Carter, M Carroll.

Replacements: B Jackman, D McFarland, M McCarthy, J O'Sullivan, M Walls, D Hewitt, M McHugh.

Dragons: S Tuipulotu; N Brew, P Montgomery, A Marinos (capt), H Luscombe; C Warlow, G Baber; A Black, S Jones, C Anthony, I Gough, P Sidoli, B Skinstad, J Forster, M Owen.

Replacements: K Crawford, R Snow, R Thomas, J Ringer, R Jones, S Winn, B Breeze.

Referee: A Ireland (Scotland).