Dragons 31 (14)
Ulster 11 (3)
Try: Court
Pens: O'Connor (2)
Fly-half Ceri Sweeney returned from Wales World Cup duty with 16 points from the boot to help the Dragons end a four-game losing streak against Ulster.
A fine early Gareth Wyatt try set the Dragons on the way, Ulster's discipline letting them down as Matt McCullough and David Pollock were yellow carded.
Rhodri Gomer Davies finished a length of the field move, before replacement prop Tom Court gave the visitors hope.
But the Dragons had the last word with a late try for Luke Charteris.
SCRUM V DEBATE ON 606
An early Sweeney penalty put the home side ahead, before man-of-the-match Wayne Evans' excellent up-and-under set up a fine attacking position.
The ball was recycled quickly, and a slick switch move in midfield involving Kevin Morgan ended with Wyatt being freed down the right, the experienced wing showing the pace to glide in.
Niall O'Connor got the visitors on the scoreboard with a penalty, and debutant Darren Cave went close to an interception try, only to be denied by a desperate Joe Bearman ankle tap.
"The young lads are doing well for us and the experienced boys came on to nail it"
The Dragons fired back, and when blind-side McCullough killed attacking ball he was sin-binned, Sweeney slotting the resultant penalty.
The fly-half added another with the last kick of the half, but, with Ulster back to 15 men, O'Connor got a penalty soon after the break to cut the deficit to 14-6.
The hard-working Andrew Hall was denied a try due to a forward pass in a sweeping Dragons attack, and as the pressure mounted Ulster open-side Pollock was sin-binned for killing the ball in the shadow of his posts.
Sweeney slotted the resultant kick, before Evans sparked another attack from deep in his own half.
SCRUM V DEBATE ON 606
A delightful sleight of hand from hooker Steve Jones freed centre Rhodri Gomer Davies, the centre gliding in from 45m.
The 14-man visitors hit straight back with a flowing move down the left wing, the ball quickly recycled and spun into centre field.
Good handling freed replacement prop Court and - although his grounding of the ball was dubious - the try was awarded.
Charteris hit back to give the Dragons their first victory over Ulster at Rodney Parade and to end a three-game losing streak for the Welsh side at their Newport home.
"We're a small, young squad so we're going to have hiccups, but we're a happy bunch, we're developing, and this will help us grow up again.
"There's nothing like a win to breed confidence, and we're aiming for Edinburgh next Friday now."
Dragons: Hugh Gustafson, Steve Jones, Rhys Thomas, Luke Charteris, Andrew Hall, Dan Lydiate, Richard Parks, Joe Bearman, Wayne Evans, Ceri Sweeney, Richard Mustoe, Gareth Maule, Rhodri Gomer-Davies, Gareth Wyatt, Kevin Morgan (capt).
Replacements: Aled Thomas for Richard Mustoe (41), Ashley Smith for Gareth Maule (41), Michael Owen for Joe Bearman (48), Adam Black for Hugh Gustafson (55), Jamie Ringer for Dan Lydiate (55), Ben Daly for Steve Jones (70).
Ulster: Justin Fitzpatrick, Nigel Brady, Declan Fitzpatrick, Justin Harrison, Tim Barker, Matt McCullough, David Pollock, Roger Wilson (capt), Paul Marshall, Niall O'Connor, Simon Danielli, Tommy Bowe, Darren Cave, Mark McCrea, Mark Bartholomeusz.
Replacements: Bryn Cunningham for Darren Cave (48), Tom Court for Declan Fitzpatrick (50), Matt Miles for Nigel Brady (55), Carlo Del Fava for Tim Barker (58), Kieran Campbell for Paul Marshall (64), Neil McMillan for David Pollock (64), Kieran Hallet for Niall O'Connor (77).
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Attendance: 4,139
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