Connacht 30 Pontypridd 35
Two late tries from Connacht wing Wayne Munn gave the under-fire Irish province hope of progressing to the Parker Pen Challenge Cup semi-finals.
Connacht, under threat of disbandment by the cash-strapped Irish Rugby Football Union, looked to be on their way out of the competition when they trailed 35-20 to Welsh visitors Pontypridd in this gripping quarter-final first leg.
But Munn stepped up on the left wing to touch down twice and leave the Irishmen with some hope going into next week's second leg at Sardis Road.
The first half was a see-saw affair, with Eric Elwood drawing first blood for Connacht with a penalty after just 90 seconds.
Both sides missed penalties before Ponty edged in front in the 15th minute, Emyr Lewis scoring a try in the corner following a break from deep by full-back Brett Davey, who then converted.
The Welsh side then suffered a double blow by losing both their centres, Sonny Parker and Jon Bryant, to injury shortly after.
Neil Jenkins, originally named as a starter but dropped to the bench ahead of kick-off, made an immediate impact as a substitute, sending Pontypridd into a 10-3 lead with a 21st-minute penalty.
The Irishmen hit back in the 28th minute when back row Colm Rigney broke the Ponty line, wrong-footed Davey and touched down for a try converted by Elwood.
Jenkins responded with a penalty but Connacht took the lead when lock Rowan Frost crashed over for a try in the 32nd minute.
Elwood again converted with a great kick from the left touchline and Connacht went in at the break 17-13 in front.
The second half saw Pontypridd take the game to their hosts and their two substitutes, Jenkins and Shaun James, combined to retake the lead.
Jenkins made a break in midfield and sent a long pass out to Michael Owen who fed James on his outside and the replacement centre scored in the corner.
Jenkins' conversion attempt came off the upright to leave Ponty 18-17 in front and, although Elwood regained the lead at 20-18 with 54th-minute penalty, it was the last time Ponty were in arrears.
Flanker Geraint Lewis started and finished a great try-scoring move, stealing the ball at the line-out and kicking on before continuing his run down the right wing and taking the final pass to score in the corner.
Jenkins converted and was called into action again five minutes later as Gareth Wyatt scored under the posts to round off a mazy run and Ponty were 35-20 in front with 15 minutes left on the clock.
But with the second leg to come, Connacht never gave up and Munn scored a vital try after 70 minutes and again in the 79th to narrow the gap to five points.