Connacht (6) 11
Try: Rigney
Pens: Nathan (2)

Blues (15) 39
Tries: James, White, Rush, G. Williams, G. Thomas
Cons: Blair (4)
Pens: Blair (2)

Connacht's chances of qualifying for next season's Heineken Cup evaporated as the Blues ran five tries past them in Galway on Friday.

The Blues' win keeps the title race alive but Leinster are still set to win it against the Dragons on Saturday.

The Cardiff side dominated with tries from Tom James, Ben White, Xavier Rush, Gareth Williams and Gareth Thomas.

The Irish province had been aiming to overtake Ulster in the table to gain entry to European rugby's premier cup.

Connacht started well and were 6-0 up thanks to penalties by New Zealand fly-half Troy Nathan.

However, Michael Bradley's side were badly stretched in the 27th minute when Tom Shanklin, Ben Blair and Nicky Robinson combined to put winger James over in the left corner for his eighth try of the campaign.

The Blues secured a 15-6 interval advantage thanks to a 33rd-minute try from replacement White.

David Gannon was caught out at a ruck on the 22 as he allowed White to spin past him and the big Australian had the legs to gallop over to the left of the posts for a seven-pointer.

Three minutes after the restart, fly-half Robinson carved open the hosts' rearguard before offloading for his captain Rush to pile over in the right corner.

A Blair penalty goal was followed by two late tries from Cardiff as they wrapped up the bonus point.

Replacement hooker Gareth Williams notched his side's fourth touchdown when he blocked a Robbie Shaw clearance kick and managed to juggle and dive over the line.

In stoppage-time, Molitika timed his pass to perfection for Thomas to slice through the centre and score under the posts.

Connacht responded with a Colm Rigney try after a short lineout from John Fogarty.