Newport Gwent Dragons 19-46 Ulster

Ruan Pienaar scored 21 points to help Ulster emphatically beat the Dragons and consolidate their status at the top of the table.

The Dragons began the game with confidence and gusto as two long-range Tom Prydie penalties gave them an early lead. Ulster opened their account when Ireland prop Tom Court finished a try of true quality from the Irish region. Inter-linking play between backs and forwards had the home side on the back foot before a neat off-load out the tackle from Ruan Pienaar enabled Court to stroll over the Dragons try-line. Pienaar's conversion took the visitors into a 7-6 lead. The Dragons retook the lead when Andy Tuilagi was on the end of well-worked try where patient phase-play and dominant forward runners breached Ulster's line. The impressive Nick Williams brushed aside several flailing Dragons defenders on his way to scoring a converted try and restore the visitors lead to 14-13. Prydie's third penalty edged the Dragons ahead before Ulster struck back when Pienaar tenaciously charged Prydie's misdirected kick and dotted down to take the score to 19-16. After the break Ulster extended their lead to 25-16 thanks to two further penalties from Pienaar before Prydie responded with another penalty to leave the game finely posed with half an hour remaining. Ulster showed their class as they put the squeeze on hosts when Darren Cave's converted try secured the bonus point. Andrew Trimble intercepted a loose pass and raced to the line untouched to score and replacement Jared Payne scored his side's sixth try of the game to confirm Ulster's dominance in the final quarter of the game. The victory is only the second occasion Ulster have won at Rodney Parade since 2006.