Relentless Ulster brush Dragons aside

Dragons 19 Ulster 46:Ulster kept their foot to the floor at the top of the RaboDirect Pro12 table with a sixth consecutive win of the season, a bonus-point victory over the Dragons at Rodney Parade that extended their lead over the Scarlets to two points.

Their lead might have been five had Rhys Priestland not kicked a late penalty for Scarlets against Edinburgh at Murrayfield for a 29-28 win.

Mark Anscombe’s side ran in six tries against their hosts to maintain their 100 per cent record so far this year and guarantee top spot heading into November.

Ruan Pienaar, who touched down once himself, added 18 points with he boot for a comprehensive win.

Ulster, whose matchday squad included nine players who will be with Ireland in the autumn, headed into the game fresh from a perfect start to their Heineken Cup campaign while the Dragons were attempted to forget a nightmare opening in the Amlin Challenge Cup.

The hosts have a formidable record against the province, who had won just once on their travels to Newport since 2006.

Yet, this is a different Ulster and the confident visitors were one try away from a bonus point at half-time, albeit with a slim three-point lead.

The Dragons made a sharp start and led 6-0 thanks to a brace of early penalties by fullback Tom Prydie.

However, the leaders struck back on 16 minutes when Ruan Pienaar made a break inside the hosts’ 22 and offloaded for Ireland prop Tom Court to go under the posts, making the South African’s conversion an easy one.

An entertaining half then swung back the Dragons’ way thanks to a converted try by Samoan centre Andy Tuilagi, then back to Ulster with number eight Nick Williams’ close range score.

Prydie slotted a penalty to inch the hosts back in front only to then see his clearance charged down by Pienaar, who dived on the ball over the line for Ulster’s third try.

The South African was wide with the conversion, just as he had been with a pair of penalty attempts, and the leaders had to be content with a 19-16 lead at the break.

Pienaar made no mistake from the tee when he slotted over a pair of early penalties after the restart to one from Prydie.

And it was all over entering the final quarter thanks to tries by centre Darren Cave, from close in, and wing Andrew Trimble, who intercepted on halfway before dashing between the posts.

Pienaar converted both for a 39-19 lead before replacement centre Jared Payne added to the Dragons’ woes with a try at the death.