Connacht dominated this European Shield match yet came away with a heartbreaking defeat. Outhalf Eric Elwood saw a last-ditch penalty attempt come back off an upright.

Elwood was central to Connacht's better moments in the match, kicking three penalties and directing his team capably. It proved a fractious contest with the home side not averse to throwing punches when the mood took them and should have suffered more than the sinbinning of Australian prop Andrew Heath.

Beziers centre Michael Noel grabbed the game's only try, converted by full back Laurent Labit who also added a penalty. The French side progress to the quarter-finals.

BEZIERS: P Labit; P Escalle, M Noel, JM Aue, A Brousquet; J F Dubois, F Sans; N McIlroy, G Shvelidze, T Lafforgue; S Hall, W Waugh; G Belzons, A Hill, F Martinez. Replacements: L Balue for Sans (23 mins), A Heath for Lafforgue (half-time), R Dourthe for Aue (46 mins), B Miguel for McIlroy (67 mins).

CONNACHT: S Stephens; D Rumney, P Duignan, T Allnutt, D Yapp; E Elwood, J Ferris; D McFarland, J McVeigh, M Cahill; R Frost, M McConnell; J Charlie, M Swift, J O'Connor. Replacements: B Shelbourne for Ferris (36 mins), M Murphy for Allnutt (52 mins), J Screene for Cahill (65 mins), D Browne for Frost (67 mins), I Dillon for Charlie (67 mins), C Rigney for Swift (69 mins).

Referee: T Rowlands (Wales).