Ulster put on a scintillating attacking display against their welsh opposition to win in front of the Ulster faithful, with a first home match since the Champions Cup loss to Toulouse in January.
Ulster centre, James Hume, made his first start as Ulster captain, a proud moment for the Ulster Academy product.
With Dan Soper taking interim charge ahead of Richie Murphy's arrival later this month, the team responded to recent disappointments in style, with Mike Lowry and David McCann both scoring twice.
Full-back Will Addison, back-rower Nick Timoney and flanker, Harry Sheridan, also scored, as Ulster were clinical when in the Dragons 22.
After a fast start, Ulster took the lead five minutes into the contest when Billy Burns pulled out one of his trademark grubber kicks that found Will Addison who ran onto the ball to dot down in the right corner. Cooney slotted home the conversion for the early lead.
Dragons showed they were dangerous by levelling the score minutes later, with James Benjamin finishing off a lineout maul and Reed converting to make the scoreline 7-7.
The home side took the lead once again minutes later, after Will Addison made a carry which saw David McCann break the Dragons line and the big flanker timed his offload to perfection, with Mike Lowry racing clear on the right wing.
Lowry was starting on the left wing but was a menace all evening, popping up all over the field to pose a threat.
Cooney added the extras.
Ulster didn't take their foot off the gas and lock, Harry Sheridan, was able to notch his third try for Ulster after a set piece in the Dragons red zone. Cooney's conversion made the score 21-7, a scoreline which lasted only a couple of minutes before Lowry's second try of the contest, this time on the left wing.
Young centre, Jude Postlethwaite, turning provider as he took the contact and popped it off to Lowry who did well to finish under pressure to secure Ulster's bonus-point fourth try.
HT: 28-7
Ulster almost have their fifth try straight after the break, but Tom Stewart's drive to the Dragons tryline was unfortunately knocked on by the hooker.
The Dragons showed they weren't lying down and made inroads with their accurate set-piece game.
Screech's try reduced the deficit, with Reed's conversion unsuccessful after pinging off the posts.
Ulster made a raft of changes and it paid off, with replacement, Jacob Stockdale, making an energetic line break before finding McCann, who finished in the left corner under pressure.
Cooney's fifth conversion increased the scoreline to 35-12.
Dragons made Ulster sweat a little with their third try after the hour mark, prop, Coghlan, dotting it down after a powerful lineout maul.
Any fears of a comeback were nipped in the bud after Nick Timoney ran clear for a game-settling try, following another fantastic break from Jacob Stockdale, who again timed his pass to perfection to set Timoney up for the score.
Ulster kept up their intensity and added a seventh try through McCann's second try of the evening. The flanker had centre Luke Marshall to thank for the assist, with Marshall breaking the Dragons line and finding McCann, who ran a good line to finish off under the posts.
Cooney nailed his seventh conversion of the night to complete a 100% kicking performance for the contest.
Dragons would give their Head Coach, Dai Flanagan, something to enjoy with a late penalty try but it was a consolation as Ulster put on their best attacking display of the campaign to get back to winning ways.
The BP win lifts Ulster into fifth place in the URC table.
FT: 49-26
Scorers
Ulster:
TRY: McCann x2, Lowry x2, Timoney, Sheridan, Addison
CON: Cooney x7
Dragons:
TRY: Benjamin, Screech, Coghlan, Penalty Try
CON: Reed x2
Player of the Match
Jude Postlethwaite
A big thank you to Lewis Rennie for presenting Jude with his POTM medal at tonight’s #URC Origins Round 🏅 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ZHanGqJBU2
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) March 2, 2024
Ulster: Addison, McIlroy, Hume, Postlethwaite, Lowry; Burns, Cooney;
Kitshoff, Stewart, O'Toole; Izuchukwu, Sheridan; McCann, M. Rea, Timoney.
Replacements: Andrew (Stewart), Warwick (Kitshoff), Wilson (O'Toole), Treadwell (Izuchukwu) , Reffell (Rea), Doak (Burns), Marshall (Postlethwaite), Stockdale (Addison).
Dragons: E. Rosser, Westwood, Hughes, Owen, Baldwin; Reed, Blacker; Martínez, Benjamin, Coleman; Lonsdale, Screech; Lydiate, H. Taylor, Basham.
Replacements: Coghlan, Seiuli, Yendle, Langton-Cryer, Nott, Bertranou, Ackerman, Anderson.