Connacht were edged out by Edinburgh in their Magners Cup clash at Murrayfield, with the Scottish side winning 49-31.
Connacht got off to a great start when Conor O'Loughlin pounced on a loose ball and several pairs of hands later Conor McPhillips was touching down with Paul Warwick converting from touch.
Second bottom of the Magners League, Connacht continued to look lively until a Scott Murray burst suddenly sparked life into the home side.
The vital try to get back into it was scored by another comeback man Rob Dewey who sold a lovely dummy to open up the line.
It suddenly became all Edinburgh and after Ben Cairns had sent Simon Webster to the Connacht corner the visitors over-threw at the line out - to Ally Strokosch who battered over. With Hodge converting both, Edinburgh led 14-7 after 20 minutes.
Warwick pulled back a penalty from the re-start but Edinburgh returned to the attack. Their third try arrived when Webster, who seemed back to his best, shot though centre field before unloading to Dewey who touched down by the posts with Hodge converting.
However Connacht got back into it with a second McPhillips try converted by Warwick who had shot through a static Edinburgh defence, so Edinburgh were thankful for a last-minute penalty from Hodge that let them turn 24-14 ahead.
Within 90 seconds of the restart Edinburgh had the bonus point, John Senio getting over from close in with Hodge converting and soon adding a penalty.
In the 50th minute Webster added a spectacular try, running back a clearing kick through despairing tackles.
Hodge converted but Connacht still had life grabbing a try through Dan Riordan with Warwick converting.
In a tight finish Webster had a second try and Phil Godman kicked a penalty for Edinburgh while David Gannon scored Connacht's fourth try converted by David Slemen.
While Hogg came through only his seventh Magners League game of the season unscathed, Webster seemed ready for Twickenham.
