Ulster extinguish the Dragons' fire

Ulster 37 Gwent Dragons 18Ulster, despite the reduction of their entire squad to just 25 because of injury and World Cup commitments, maintained their 100 per cent home record in the revamped Celtic League with a comfortable victory at Ravenhill last night.

Mike Ruddock's side were shown little mercy in Belfast, where Ulster produced plenty of evidence that they will be a front-running side in this competition, especially during the World Cup in Australia.

The home side enjoyed the majority of possession in a scrappy opening, with two penalties by outhalf Adam Larkin cancelling out Craig Warlow's fifth-minute kick.

The Dragons then took the game to Ulster, with flanker Rhys Oakley and centre Steve Winn involved in an impressive phase of penetrating continuity.

Unfortunately for the visitors, no points resulted from their endeavours and Ulster made them pay with a superb try by captain Andy Ward. The move started deep in Ulster's 22 when wing Scott Young collected a high ball and off-loaded to Tyrone Howe, who put Shane Stewart into space. Ryan Constable continued the attack by racing into the Dragons' 22 before Ward powered over from close range.

Warlow then took advantage of a knock-on at the tail of a lineout by knocking over a sweet drop-goal to keep the visitors in touch at the break.

In the 49th minute, Tony McWhirter burst over for his side's second try.

The Dragons attempted to claw their way back into the game after a number of penalties and five-metre scrums, and Ulster found themselves reduced to 14 men when prop Bryan Young was sent to the sin bin for collapsing the scrum. But Ulster kept their line unbreached, broke the siege and Howe claimed the bonus point with his side's fourth try two minutes from full-time.

SCORING SEQUENCE: 5 mins: Warlow pen, 0-3; 7: Larkin pen, 3-3; 13: Larkin pen, 6-3; 28: Ward try, Larkin con, 13-3; 38: Warlow drop-goal, 13-6; 44: Larkin pen, 16-6; 49: McWhirter try, Larkin con, 23-6; 55: G Arasa try, Warlow con 23-13; 58: Constable try, Larkin con, 30-13; 78: Howe try, Larkin con 37-13; 79: Baber try, 37-18.

ULSTER: B Cunningham; S Young, R Constable, S Stewart, T Howe; A Larkin, K Campbell; R McCormack, M Sexton, B Young, M Mustchin, R Frost, T McWhirter, A Ward (capt), R Wilson. Replacements: P Shields for M Sexton (40), S Shawe for McWhirter (69-79), M McCullough for Frost (53), N Best, R Spee for Campbell (77), S Mallon for Stewart, J Topping for T Howe (11-17).

DRAGONS: B Breeze; G Arasa, N Brew, A Marinos (capt), K James; C Warlow, R Jones; A Black, S Jones, C Anthony, I Gough, P Sidoli, R Oakley, J Forster, S Van Rensburg. Replacements: D Pattison for A Black (40), S Winn for A Marinos (11), B Haywood, G Baber for Jones (75).

Yellow cards: Ulster - B Young.

Referee: A Ireland (Scot).