A much-improved second half performance by Ulster was not enough to salvage a result at Rodney Parade, with the damage having been inflicted by Jason Tovey’s accurate boot in the first period.
Changes in personnel from Ulster’s loss at the Ospreys last Sunday saw Adam D’Arcy replace the injured Jared Payne at full-back and Nigel Brady took over from Andi Kyriacou at hooker.
Willie Faloon also came in for Robbie Diack in the back row, while Ian Porter and Conor Gaston returned to the replacements bench where they were joined by Academy prop Kyle McCall.
Ulster were somewhat off-colour in the first half, with uncharacteristic errors among the backs surrendering possession too often, and indiscipline giving Dragons out-half Jason Tovey multiple opportunities in very kickable positions.
In prime playing conditions, however, Ulster started the brighter, and with the Dragons infringing at the breakdown in the first five minutes, Paddy Jackson kicked the visitors into an early lead from the home 22.
But an Ulster offside two minutes later allowed Tovey to redress the balance before two promising breaks, one for each side, were blighted by knock ons.
A further Ulster offside, approaching the midpoint of the half, allowed Tovey put the hosts 6-3 ahead and the province’s prospects began to look gloomy when Nevin Spence was sin-binned in the 23rd minute for his second high tackle of the match.
The Dragons wasted no time in exploiting the Spence-shaped hole in Ulster’s midfield, Tom Riley running through for a try on the left after good approach play from a lineout. Tovey converted to establish a 13-3 advantage for the Welshmen.
After a missed penalty from Jackson just before the half-hour, another Ulster offside was penalised by referee Neil Paterson and Tovey was only too happy to oblige and increase the lead further still.
But holding on in the tackle from the Dragons straight from the restart allowed Jackson to keep his side in touch, as his superb long range penalty closed the gap to 16-6.
With Spence back in the fray, Ulster strove to contain the rampant Dragons until half-time, but were undone on the cusp on half-time when Paul Marshall strayed offside.
Tovey landed his fourth successful penalty of the encounter. A disappointing half came to an end with Brian McLaughlin’s men in dire need of a major improvement in the second period if they were to avoid a frustrating defeat.
A bright break engineered by Luke Marshall in the opening minutes of the second half saw the young centre use his power and speed to thrust into Dragons territory.
But, in keeping with the pattern of the game, the attack came to an end when Spence was penalised for holding on in the tackle as Ulster neared the try-line.
The Dragons then kept up their practice of converting their possession into points moments later as Tovey split the posts again, punishing Declan Fitzpatrick for a binding offence.
A 51st minute penalty from Jackson penalty kept Ulster within touching distance, and one of the visitors’ most promising attacks followed, with replacement scrum half Porter intelligently exploiting a gap in the Dragons defence from a lineout.
The former Ireland Under-20 international made excellent ground before a touch of over exuberance among the Ulster backs resulted in crossing and put paid to the move.
With the next score crucial in determining the outcome of this game, Ulster were spared when Tovey’s penalty from the right rebounded off an upright.
Ulster suffered some bad luck, five minutes later, as Ian Whitten’s toe just sneaked into touch before he grounded the ball in the left corner for what could have been a game-changing try.
It was not to be, however, as the Dragons were happy to close out the game playing percentage rugby in the Ulster half after that late scare.
So, a second consecutive defeat on the road for McLaughlin’s outfit sees them sitting on a middling record of three wins from five in the RaboDirect PRO12, a return they will hope to improve upon next Friday when they welcome Benetton Treviso to Ravenhill.
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