Pro14: Dragons 22-26 Ulster

Dragons' Joe Davies takes on Ulster pair Nick Timoney and Michael Lowry

Ulster notched up a 26-22 win over Dragons at the Principality Stadium to make it 13 wins from 15 in the Pro14 season, despite a late scare.

Centre Stewart Moore crossed twice while Alby Mathewson and John Andrew also touched down.

Man of the match Michael Lowry added three conversions for the visitors.

Ollie Griffiths, Rio Dyer and Jonah Holmes scored tries for the home side, whose closing flourish proved just too late to affect the result.

With European Champions Cup qualification ensured and their Pro14 title hopes over, Ulster looked confident throughout despite ringing the changes.

There was plenty to please departing backs coach Dwayne Peel. who is contracted to join Cardiff Blues in the summer but is also being linked with his previous Scarlets side.

In contrast Dragons, not helped by the late withdrawal of 45-cap back-rower Ross Moriarty at their temporary new home, could not match Ulster's efficiency until the last ten minutes when they earned a losing bonus point.

After soaking up early pressure Ulster broke out from defence with a superb powerful run from Jacob Stockdale for veteran ex-All Black Mathewson to score in support after 13 minutes, Lowry converting.

Ulster were enjoying the wide open spaces of Welsh rugby HQ and Stuart McCloskey's offload out of the tackle saw co-centre Moore cruise in unopposed for another seven-pointer.

The home side got on the board with a Sam Davies penalty but stern Ulster defence saw them hold on to a 14-3 interval lead despite a yellow card for hooker Andrew.

Ulster started the second half strongly and Harri Keddie was sin-binned for slowing down possession on his line, before Andrew returned to the fray to finish off a driving maul after 50 minutes to strengthen the visitors' grip.

The home side finally crossed the whitewash five minutes later as Griffiths battered over from close quarters on his return from injury, Davies converting.

Davies converted that but shortly afterwards saw his pass on half-way picked off by Moore, who ran in unopposed for his second and Ulster's fourth just after the hour.

Dragons produced another barrage of forward pressure and with Nick Timoney in the bin, Dyer crossed in the corner after 73 minutes.

Then a spectacular break out of defence from Wales squad centre Nick Tompkins put Holmes in for Josh Lewis to convert with two minutes left, but Ulster held on to prevent any more shocks.

With Rodney Parade's over-worked surface being rested, Dragons face Glasgow and Edinburgh in their remaining regular-season matches at the national ground, while Ulster round off their campaign at home to Zebre on Friday 19 March.

Dragons director of rugby Dean Ryan:

"I'm pretty proud of us tonight, it's a new level of physicality and intensity we're playing at. We make some more mistakes at that level and we missed two or moments where we've got to be more clinical.

"There's a lot of things to be positive about although we didn't get the win we wanted. I thought it was fantastic (playing at the stadium), full credit to everyone who put it on, and I think it was a great advert.

"It was a huge bonus point the same as the Leinster one, and we'll only know at the end (of the season).

"We want to get back to the Champions Cup and it's still possible so we've got a lot riding on these next two games and we'll see what EPCR decide."

Ulster fly-half Michael Lowry:

"We were disappointed last week (against Leinster) and we had something to prove here. We were far from perfect, we knew it was going to be a tough game with the Dragons having a lot to play for to get a spot in Europe.

"Our discipline killed us at times but we stuck in there like we always do and we got there at the end even though it was a wee bit nervy.

"For a small guy I like getting in the way of the big guys (making 16 tackles), our club fights for every inch and that's one thing I try to base my game on."

Captain Alan O'Connor:

"We base ourselves on playing with tempo and speed, we back ourselves and we enjoy the physical part. Nothing much has changed but we're going to the right places.

"The stadium was cool, but they could have had the roof on to make it a bit warmer!"

Dragons: Josh Lewis; Jonah Holmes, Aneurin Owen, Jamie Roberts, Rio Dyer; Sam Davies, Rhodri Williams (capt); Brok Harris, Richard Hibbard, Lloyd Fairbrother, Joe Davies, Joe Maksymiw, Harrison Keddie, Ben Fry, Ollie Griffiths.

Replacements: Rhys Lawrence, Josh Reynolds, Aaron Jarvis, Matthew Screech, Ben Carter, Dan Baker, Gonzalo Bertranou, Nick Tompkins.

Dragons: Josh Lewis; Jonah Holmes, Aneurin Owen, Jamie Roberts, Rio Dyer; Sam Davies, Rhodri Williams (capt); Brok Harris, Richard Hibbard, Lloyd Fairbrother, Joe Davies, Joe Maksymiw, Harrison Keddie, Ben Fry, Ollie Griffiths.

Replacements: Rhys Lawrence, Josh Reynolds, Aaron Jarvis, Matthew Screech, Ben Carter, Dan Baker, Gonzalo Bertranou, Nick Tompkins.

Ulster: Jacob Stockdale; Craig Gilroy, Stewart Moore, Stuart McCloskey, Rob Lyttle; Michael Lowry, Alby Mathewson; Eric O'Sullivan, John Andrew, Ross Kane, Alan O'Connor (capt), Kieran Treadwell, David McCann, Sean Reidy, Nick Timoney.

Replacements: Brad Roberts, Callum Reid, Gareth Milasinovich, Cormac Izuchukwu, Matty Rea, David Shanahan, Ian Madigan, Ethan McIlroy.

Referee: Adam Jones (WRU)

Assistant referees: Ben Whitehouse, Dan Jones (both WRU)

TMO: Ian Davies (WRU)