Pontypridd broke Connacht's perfect record and lead-frogged the Irish province to Pool B pole position 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.

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 Jon Bryant and wing Emyr Lewis, carved open a continuous path through an uncharacteristically porous Connacht defence.

And the pack did its job up front, led by impressive number eight Michael Owen.

After Eric 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 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 Elwood's attempted drop goal was run out of defence, and the ball eventually found Bryant who ran in from the 22 untouched.

After the break and following a 44th-minute penalty from Jenkins, Pontypridd continued the rout.

Davey was once again instrumental, sending 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 try haul and Davey sealed a devastating display with a drop goal to ensure their qualification for the quarter-finals.

Connacht: M McHugh; T Robinson, D O'Sullivan, S Moore, W Munn; E Elwood, E Reddan; D McFarland, M Uijs, R McCormack, W Waugh, R Frost, M Swift, J O'Sullivan, C Rigney.
Reps: P Bracken, J Flannery, D Browne, E Peters, M Walls, M McPhail, J Norton.

Pontypridd: B Davey; G Wyatt, S Parker, J Bryant, E Lewis; N Jenkins, P John; G Jenkins, M Davies (capt), D Bell, B Cockbain, R Sidoli, N Kelly, M Owen, W O'Connor.
Reps: J Lewis, C Sweeney, G Baber, N Hennessy, M Rees, D McIntosh, G Lewis.

Referee: Andy Ireland (SFU)