Last year’s runners up Ulster made a disappointing start to their Pro12 campaign as the Dragons scored nine unanswered points in the second half after Mark Anscombe's men led 8-6 at the interval.
Jason Tovey was once again Ulster’s nemesis, in 2009 he scored 23 of the Dragons 26 points as they beat Ulster and he scored all his side’s points with four penalties and a drop goal.
The Dragons had the first opportunity to open the scoring when Ulster skipper Johann Muller was punished for coming in at the wrong side of a ruck but Tovey dragged his penalty wide.
Tovey returning to Rodney Parade after a 12 month spell at the Cardiff Blues did break the deadlock with a sweetly struck drop goal in the 9th minute after the home pack had worked the ball through a series of phases.
Ulster levelled on 13 minutes following a powerful scrum on the Dragons 22 which resulted in a penalty and Ireland out half Jackson slotted over the resulting kick.
Tovey restored the Dragons lead two minutes later with a penalty after Callum Black was punished for holding on.
Ulster took the lead on 17 minutes when they opted to kick a penalty for touch.
From the lineout they executed a prefect catch and drive and No8 Roger Wilson peeled of the back and powered over from close range but Jackson failed with the conversion attempt.
The powerful scrum earned another penalty but just pushed his kick wide of the posts.
Ulster had a lucky escape following an overthrow at the lineout, Dragons scrum half Ritchie Rees seized the ball and made a sniping break, Jack Dixon drove at the defence but Ulster managed to force a turn over.
Jackson wasted another opportunity to extend the lead when he missed a penalty which was earned from another imposing scrum.
Tovey had the chance to put the Dragons in front at the break after the side were awarded a penalty when David McIlwaine was caught offside but the former Welsh U20 outhalf was off target and Ulster went in 8-6 up at half time.
Tovey got the first points of the second half with a 49th minute penalty after Muller went off his feet at the breakdown.
Ulster nearly created a second try when Wilson tidied up a loose scrum, he fed Robbie Diack the flanker gave it to Paul Marshall, he slipped in the 22, from quick recycled ball Chris Farrell’s cross field kick eluded Andrew Trimble into touch.
Tom Court replaced Ricky Lutton in the Ulster from row but conceded a penalty at his first scrum for taking it down and Tovey extended the Dragons lead with a long range kick on 59 minutes.
Replacement scrum half Ian Porter nearly produced a try with a great break but Tovey’s tackle was enough to up end him on the Dragons 22.
Tovey’s fourth penalty on 70 minutes extended the Dragons lead to seven points after Ulster failed to roll away from the tackle.
Ulster were camped on the Dragons line following another driving maul worked the ball through 10 phases but the Dragons defence held firm and forced the mistake.
Tovey missed with a drop goal and from the restart Ulster tried to run it from their own 22 but a the game ended with a forward pass.
Dragons: D Evans, T Prydie, P Leach, J Dixon, H Amos; J Tovey, Richie Rees;
A Coundley, T. Rhys Thomas, D Way, M Screech, A Coombs (capt), J Groves, N Cudd, L Evans.
Replacements: H Gustafson, P Price for Coundley, F Chaparro, A Jones, N Talei, J Evans, K Burton, R Wardle.
Ulster: J Payne; A Trimble, L Marshall, C Farrell, D McIlwaine; P Jackson, P Marshall; C Black, R Herring, R Lutton; J Muller (capt), D Tuohy; R Diack, C Henry, R Wilson.
Replacements: N Annett, T Court, D Fitzpatrick, L Stevenson, S Doyle, I Porter, J McKinney, D Cave.Mark Anscombe