Connacht end Bristol's hopes of progress in cup

Jack Aungier scored Connacht's second try in their bonus-point victory over Bristol Bears

Connacht ended Bristol Bears' hopes of reaching the Investec Champions Cup last 16 with a comfortable bonus-point win in their final pool game.

Bristol struggled to recover as the hosts scored again through Jack Aungier and Caolin Blade before the interval.

Andrew Smith added a fourth after the break as Bristol left empty-handed despite claiming a late penalty try.

The Bears arrived in Ireland in fourth and occupying the final qualification spot in Pool 1, but defeat for Pat Lam's men sees them drop to the foot of the table and out of the competition, exchanging places with the Irish province.

Three-time winners Saracens remain fifth and can leapfrog Connacht, who they trail by one point, with victory or a losing bonus if they are beaten by fewer than 20 points in their meeting on Saturday.

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More to follow.

Line-ups

Connacht: O'Halloran; Smith, Hawkshaw, Aki, Bolton; Hanrahan, Blade (c); Buckley, McElroy, Bealham, Murray, Joyce, Prendergast, Hurley-Langton, Butler.

Replacements: Heffernan, Dooley, Aungier, Dowling, Oliver, McDonald, Carty, McNulty.

Bristol Bears: Malins; Ravouvou, Vakatawa, Janse van Rensburg, Ibitoye; MacGinty, Randal; Woolmore, Oghre, Sinckler, Caulfield, Batley, Luatua, Harding (c), Bradbury.

Replacements: Capon, Grahamslaw, Lahiff, Owen, Thomas, Marmion, Williams, O'Conor.

Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra)

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