Ulster 14 - Dragons 16

NEWPORT Gwent Dragons ended their four-year drought in Ireland when they gained a terrific victory over Ulster at Ravenhill last night – their first win of the season.

They banished the memory of last Sunday’s hiding against Munster and silenced all those who have slammed them in the past few days.

It was an heroic performance by the Dragons as they fought to the last. Joe Bearman earned the man-of-the-match award with a barnstorming performance and an assured James Arlidge kicked 11 points, the result sending Ulster to the bottom of the table after Connacht and Edinburgh won last night.

Conditions were dry - almost unheard of at Ravenhill - as Arlidge kicked off, but possession was lost at two early line-outs before Isaac Boss stole away and kicked into the Dragons 22.

The scrum half probed again, but the Dragons defence held and Arlidge cleared well though they lost ground when the ball was spilled and booted down field.

The Dragons twice conceded penalties near their own line, each time Niall O’Connor put the ball into touch and from the second line-out flanker Kieron Dawson stole around the front and ran in behind the posts for a try which Australian full back Clinton Schifcofske converted.

But the Dragons countered, Rory Sidey making ground and Grant Webb carrying until they were awarded a penalty for preventing release which Arlidge kicked comfortably.

Luke Charteris was winning line-out ball and props Rhys Thomas and Adam Black contributed well. Arlidge put up a skyscraper, O’Connor knocked on and Richard Fussell tried to take advantage but again the Dragons lost precious yards.

But they narrowed the gap to a point when Ulster came in from the wrong side and Arlidge kicked a beauty from almost 50 yards despite the crowd giving the referee the slow handclap.

The Dragons were now playing quite well, Ashley Smith running hard, Joe Bearman making ground and Wayne Evans kicking neatly over the top.

And in first half injury time they went ahead for the first time when home prop Tom Court was warned for illegal use of the boot and Arlidge kicked another belter, this time from wide out on the right.

The Dragons almost snatched a try straight from the resumption when Webb stormed 50 yards downfield after gathering a stray kick only to be pushed into touch a few yards short by covering wing Timoci Nagusa.

But Fussell was yellow carded for diving in as Ulster countered and it needed a last ditch tackle by Phil Dollman to deny Andrew Trimble.

Though Arlidge and Bearman ran well the Dragons came under heavy pressure, but again the Dragons defence was equal to the task and they stormed back to stretch their lead with 11 minutes left.

Bearman again probed strongly, Arlidge chipped through, Fussell picked up and transferred to Smith who just touched down for a try which Arlidge converted, the ball going over via a post.

But Ulster retaliated with a try by replacement Ian Humphreys with five minutes left converted by Schifcofske. The hosts piled it on but somehow the Dragons held out.

Ulster: C Schifcofske, A Trimble, D Cave, R Dewey (B Cunningham 72), T Nagusa, N O’Connor (I Humphreys 55), I Boss (C Willis 61), T Court (J Fitzpatrick 61), R Best (captain), B J Botha, R Caldwell, E O’Donoghue (C Del Fava 61), M McCullough (T Anderson 63), R Diack, K Dawson.

Scorers -- tries: K Dawson, I Humphreys; conversions: C Schifcofske (2).

Newport Gwent Dragons: P Dollman, G Wyatt, R Sidey, A Smith, R Fussell, J Arlidge, W Evans (T Isaacs 75), A Black (H Gustafson 60), T Willis (captain), R Thomas, A Jones, L Charteris, J Bearman, G Webb (J Ringer 60), R Parks.

Scorers -- try: A Smith; conversion: J Arlidge; penalties: Arlidge (3).

Referee: Andy Macpherson (Scotland).

Attendance: 7,885.