Pro14: Ulster beat Dragons 40-17 in six-try success

Louis Ludik was among the tries for the first time in over two years

Five first-half tries helped Ulster cruise past Dragons to continue their strong start to the new Pro14 season with a 40-17 win in Belfast.

Scores from Marcell Coetzee, Eric O'Sullivan, Sean Reidy and Louis Ludik meant the hosts secured their bonus point inside 32 minutes before Ludik crossed for his second in a one-sided opening 40 minutes.

Dragons improved after the break with Ashton Hewitt and Jamie Roberts crossing the try-line either side of Alan O'Connor's score.

The win moves Ulster to within a point of Conference A leaders Leinster, who have secured maximum points from their three opening matches while Dragons remain second from bottom in the same conference, with one win so far.

• Connacht triumph over Edinburgh in Pro14

Aided by a strong tailwind, Ulster were rampant in the first half as their forwards dominated the set-piece and the breakdown.

It took Coetzee only five minutes to score his third try in as many games, as the South African powered over from close-range after Ulster stole a Dragons line-out.

It was at the line-out where Ulster found so much success, and where Dragons struggled the most. Ten minutes after Coetzee's opener O'Sullivan crashed over under the posts after another strong set-piece.

Ulster's line-out was functioning beautifully in the first half

The impressive Reidy combined well with fellow flanker Jordi Murphy to notch Ulster's third as the bonus point came into focus with barely half an hour played. Moments later it was delivered by Ludik who ended a two-and-a-half-year spell without a try by diving over in the left-hand corner.

Having waited so long for one, the South African back wasted little time in finding another, albeit in fortuitous circumstances as a loose ball cannoned off his face allowing him to dot down over the line.

Dragons improvement comes too late

With the change of ends it was always likely Dragons would offer more in attack after the interval, and so it proved, though there was never a hint that the deficit could be sufficiently clawed back.

After Matt Faddes' yellow card for an elbow to the throat of Adam Warren, the Welsh region created their first try of the game in style, working the ball through the hands for Hewitt to supply a typically excellent finish.

Another line-out drive sucked in Dragons defenders, allowing Ulster to spread the play before O'Connor darted over for their sole score of the second half, before Wales veteran Roberts produced the final action, finishing a brilliant end-to-end move from the visitors to crash over.

Having met two Irish provinces in the opening weeks of the season, Dragons will face their third next Sunday when they host Munster at Rodney Parade.

Ulster: Lyttle, Faddes, Hume, Moore, Ludik, Madigan, Cooney; O'Sullivan, Andrew, Moore, A O'Connor, Carter, Reidy, Murphy, Coetzee.

Replacements: McBurney, McCall, Kane, Treadwell, Timoney, Shanahan, Johnston, Lowry.

Dragons: Holmes, Rosser, Warren, Dixon, Hewitt, Davies, Williams; Bateman, Hibbard, Fairbrother, Davies, Screech; Keddie, Basham, Griffiths.

Replacements: Shipp, Harris, Coleman, Maksymiw, Fry, Knoyle, Robson, Roberts.