CONNACHT must be wondering what higher power they have upset after suffering the agony of defeat in injury-time in Europe for the second week in a row. Following their 19-18 defeat to a late penalty against Harlequins in Galway last week, Chris Malone converted David Bory's 82nd minute try from the touchline to break Connacht hearts once again.

It was the most cruel of blows for Michael Bradley's men who had led since the fourth minute and their bonus point for losing by less than seven points will come as scant consolation after coming so agonisingly close.

Paul Warwick looked for all the world to have given his side a precious away win after kicking 14 points, including the conversion of Daniel Riordan's first-half try. But Bath, roared on by more than 10,000 at the Recreation Ground, hit back in additional time when Bory darted over in the corner to level the scores before Malone's inchperfect kick claimed the most dramatic of victories.

Until then Connacht looked to have got themselves back into contention in Pool 4 of the European Challenge Cup.

Defeat to Harlequins last weekend may well have been cruel luck for Connacht but only served to heighten the need to get a result at the Rec.

Their preparations were not helped by the loss of experienced campaigners Matt Mostyn and Mark McHugh from their backline. And while Tom Tierney was given the nod to start at scrum-half and captain John Fogarty was selected to start at hooker, both players' involvement was cut short in a bruising opening half.

Fogarty was shown the yellow card after just 13 minutes for coming into a ruck from the side as Bath pressed forward and had barely returned from the sin bin when Tierney hobbled off with a knee injury after 26 minutes. By that time Warwick had already given Connacht an early lead with a penalty after a mere four minutes and they escaped with conceding just a single penalty to Malone during the 10minute spell reduced to 14 men.

Connacht then gained a foot-hold in the game when Warwick provided the inspiration for the opening try of the game on 34 minutes, breaking through Bath's defence before timing his pass to Riordan to perfection and the full back pinned back his ears to sprint through the posts. Warwick converted but Connacht's indiscipline allowed Bath to clamber back to within a point by half-time.

Replacement scrum-half Chris Keane received the game's second yellow card in injury-time after French referee David Rosich adjudged his powerful challenge on Rod Fidler as dangerous. Malone knocked over his third penalty to reduce Connacht's advantage to 10-9 at the break.

However Warwick kept Connacht ticking over on the scoreboard during a rousing second-half display, adding two penalties and a drop-goal to lead 19-9 just 10 minutes from time. But Tom Cheeseman skipped over on 72 minutes before Bory picked his angle to perfection after Connacht were penalised in front of their own posts to set up Malone's dramatic winner.

BATH M Perry; T Cheeseman, S Berne, E Fuimaono, D Bory; C Malone, N Walshe; D Barnes, R Hawkins, D Flatman, P Short, R Fidler, A Beattie (c), J Scaysbrook, I Feaunati Subs D Grewcock for P Short, h-t; L Mears for Hawkins, 55mins;

CONNACHT D Riordan; K Mathews, J Hearty, G Williams, D Yapp; P Warwick, T Tierney; R Hogan, J Fogarty (c), B Sturgess, D Gannon, A Farley, J Muldoon, R O"sa, C Rigney Subs C Keane for Tierney, 26 mins; C McPhillips for Yapp, h-t; A Flavin for Fogarty, 59mins; B Wilkinson for Hogan, 72mins Referee David Rosich (France)