HEINEKEN CUP POOL 1 Dragons 24 Tries: Breeze, Montgomery Pens: Jarvis 4 Con: Jarvis Ulster 15 Pens: Humphreys 4 Dg: Humphreys

Welsh challengers the Dragons breathed fire on their Heineken Cup debut to thwart Ulster in a gripping clash at Rodney Parade.

South African Percy Montgomery, making his first appearance following a six-month ban, scored the winning try while Ben Breeze touched down for a first-half effort.

Rival fly-halves Lee Jarvis and David Humphreys staged a goal-kicking duel, with the Ulsterman landing 15 points compared to the 14 from the Dragons' number 10.

Ultimately, the Dragons' forward power swung the game as they continually disrupted Ulster's scrum and line-out.

Ulster, the 1999 European champions, drew first blood through a Humphreys penalty on three minutes, but that advantage was quickly cancelled out when opposite number Jarvis found his range from 30 metres.

A second Humphreys penalty restored Ulster's three-point lead approaching the end of a lively opening quarter, yet the Irish side were reduced to 14 men on 24 minutes when prop Simon Best was sin-binned.

Jarvis was on target with the resulting penalty, although Humphreys replied with a drop-goal 10 minutes before the break for a 9-6 lead.

This was a good team effort, and a big step for us Percy Montgomery

However, the Dragons made a one-man advantage count at an Ulster scrum on their own line.

A heel against the head saw captain Jason Forster send in an unmarked Breeze for the opening try of the game.

The Dragons were first out of the traps at the start of the second half, but Jarvis and Humphreys both swapped a couple of penalties apiece.

Dragons number eight Ross Beattie was lucky to escape a card for stamping on Paul Shields, as the Welsh side enjoyed one of many reprieves.

With only two points between the sides in the dying minutes, Humphreys saw a drop goal attempt fall just short before Montgomery sealed the Dragons' win after a breakaway move sparked by scrum-half Gareth Baber.

Montgomery later admitted he was relieved simply to be playing again.

We had no front-foot ball today, and it was an uphill battle for us Alan Solomons

"I am just glad to get the first game over," he said. "I am very happy with the win, and although I didn't get too many opportunities with the ball in hand, there will be plenty of other games.

"There was no comparison with this performance and when we played Ulster away in the Celtic League earlier this season. This was a good team effort, and a big step for us."

Ulster coach Alan Solomons admitted the Dragons deserved their victory.

"We didn't deserve to win," he said. "Our set-pieces weren't good, and the Dragons had a very good day in those areas," he said.

"We had no front-foot ball today, and it was an uphill battle for us."

Ulster: B Cunningham; J Topping, R Constable, P Steinmetz, T Howe; D Humphreys, N Doak; R Kempson, M Sexton, R Kempson, G Longwell, R Frost, A Ward, N Best, R Wilson.
Replacements: P Shields, R Moore, M Mustchin, T McWhirter, S Stewart, K Campbell, A Larkin.

Dragons: P Montgomery; N Brew, H Luscombe, S Winn, B Breeze; L Jarvis, G Baber; A Black, S Jones, C Anthony, I Gough, P Sidoli, J Ringer, J Forster (capt), R Beattie.
Replacements: P Young, R Snow, M Owen, R Oakley, S Tuipulotu, A Marinos, G Arasa.

Referee: Roy Maybank (England)