Stormers 35-0 Leinster (result)
Ulster 42-21 Dragons (result)
Ulster 35-14 Dragons
Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI at Affidea Stadium
Wing Robert Baloucoune was interviewed on the pitch at half-time and said he'd be back from injury in a few weeks.
Another piece of good news for Ulster fans in addition to their side taking control of this game.
Nathan Doak (con Doak)
A dagger from Ulster just two minutes after the break. With Rio Dyer caught in the ruck, Zac Ward shows great vision to snipe down the blindside into space.
He unselfishly passes inside to Nathan Doak to canter home unchallenged and he adds the extras himself.
Ulster starting to pull away!
Ulster 28-14 Dragons
Back underway as Ulster kick off towards the War Memorial End.
Ulster 28-14 Dragons
After a disastrous start, Ulster have responded brilliantly and have wrapped up the bonus point before half-time.
It hasn't always been pretty but when it has clicked, Ulster have played some good stuff. Can they keep it up after the break?
Zac Ward (con Doak)
Bonus point in the bag before half-time! Brilliant hands from the Ulster backs and Michael Lowry is looking so confident on opening night.
Brilliant footwork gets him on the outside edge to offload to Zac Ward. He still has work to do but shows power and agility to stretch over in the corner!
Another stunning kick from Nathan Doak as he nails one from the touch line.
David McCann (con Doak)
We might be getting a TMO review here...
As it turns out, none required! You cannot fault Ulster's ambition and they are throwing the ball around at times with reckless abandon but this time it pays off!
After Nathan Doak spilled on the ground, the Dragons kick the advantage away and Zac Ward runs it back. He sets up Michael Lowry who spots a gap and makes it into the 22. He offloads to David McCann that the visitors thought was forward but score is good.
The conversion is tougher this time but Doak nails it again as he extends Ulster's first lead of the night.
Ulster 14-14 Dragons
After winning a goal-line dropout, Tinus De Beer takes Jack Murphy's kick and sends it back with interest via an ambitious drop-goal.
His effort has neither the legs nor accuracy and it is met with jeers from the home support.
Nick Timoney (con Doak)
Ulster turn the ball over in the Dragons red zone and patiently go through the phases. That allows Nick Timoney to barge his way over near the posts for an easy conversion for Nathan Doak.
We are level again on the half-hour mark!
Ulster 7-14 Dragons
A brilliant counter from Ulster but, ultimately, they force one pass too many. Initially, Michael Lowry takes a catch and beats the first man before Stuart McCloskey makes a line break.
He offloads to Zac Ward who, in turn sets Jacob Stockdale away. The Ireland wing is hauled back five metres from the line and attempts to offload back to Ward but its around his ankles and he can't hang on.
Perhaps taking into contact would have been better but easy for me to say!
Ulster 7-14 Dragons
Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI at Affidea Stadium
This is very untidy from Ulster on both sides of the ball so far.
At this early stage, there's no evidence to suggest that last season's defensive problems have been solved by the long summer break while loose work at the breakdown is undoing any attacking efforts.
Ulster 7-14 Dragons
James Hume intercepts in midfield and sends a kick in behind the Dragons' defence. Try-scorer Jared Rosser gets back to it and there are questions of a knock-on.
However, the visitors breath a sigh of relief as Ulster are rather harshly adjudged to have gone off their feet at the ruck in their urgency to put the pressure on.
Jared Rosser (con De Beer)
The Dragons go through the phases and work the ball left into the hands of full-back Angus O'Brien.
He looks up and grubbers a beautifully-weighted ball through the Ulster line that sits up perfectly for Jared Rosser to go over in the corner. Tinus De Beer is good from the tee again as Ulster's parity did not last long.
Cormac Izuchukwu (con Doak)
The first score of the season for Ulster goes the way of their blindside flanker tonight. He burrows over from close range after a good maul and Nathan Doak levels with his conversion.
Game on!
Ulster 0-7 Dragons
Ulster win a kickable penalty but Jack Murphy nudges a good kick into the corner and the shove is on!
Ulster 0-7 Dragons
A barnstorming run from Cormac Izuchukwu down the wing gets this crowd into things for the first time.
However, some lose passing kills the momentum albeit still Ulster ball.
Ulster 0-7 Dragons
After the scrum goes down, there is a bit of pushing and shoving between the two packs. It has been a long summer for these two teams so perhaps letting off some steam.
Just reacquainting themselves!
Ulster 0-7 Dragons
Ulster with good maul defence to win them a scrum just inside their own 22.
Ulster 0-7 Dragons
Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI at Affidea Stadium
Is 12 seconds a record low for the puncturing of any pre-season optimism?
Aaron Wainwright (con De Beer)
A desperately poor kick receipt from Ulster allows No. 8 Aaron Wainwright to dive under the posts after hacking on a loose ball. Tinus De Beer converts and there could not have been a worse start for the hosts.
Ulster 0-0 Dragons
The Dragons get us underway!
