Ulster boosted their chances of a top four RaboDirect PRO12 finish with a scintillating 38-8 victory over Newport Gwent Dragons at Ravenhill.

The Irish side ran in five tries through Ruan Pienaar, Sean Doyle and a penalty score, with Tommy Bowe also grabbing two on his first start on the wing for three months.

The Dragons went behind early on and never threatened a first victory at Ravenhill since 2008.

With Paddy Jackson released by Ireland and starting at fly-half, Ruan Pienaar moved back to his more familiar position at scrum-half and scored the first points of the evening.

His third minute penalty from distance made it 3-0 to the home side, and it was the experienced South African international who went on to score the first try of the evening.

Jared Payne claimed the high ball confidently and opened up the pitch with a delightful pass to Darren Cave who broke clear and set up Pienaar to run in from 20 metres, giving Jackson the simplest of conversions and on 16 minutes it was 10-0 to Ulster.

Ulster continued to look the more likely to score with the returning Bowe, back on the wing for the first time since November after recovering from a groin problem, looking threatening.

They suffered a blow midway through the first half, however, when centre Luke Marshall had to be replaced after picking up a knock, with Stuart McCloskey coming on for the 21-year-old’s first senior appearance.

It didn’t knock them out of their stride, Bowe marking his return with the second try of the night on 24 minutes, taking the ball from Pienaar and slicing through the Dragons defence.

Jackson made short work of the conversion to make it 17-0, and Ulster looked well on their way to a first bonus point try in the RaboDirect PRO12 since round eight.

Bowe seemed determined to make it a night to remember for the Ulster fans, as he dived over for his second and Ulster’s third try just two minutes later. Jackson added the extras and the Dragons were staring defeat in the face after only 28 minutes.

The pressure was all too much for the visitors who lost loose head prop Owen Evans to the sin bin after one infringement too many for referee Lloyd Linton’s liking.

With the offence deep in Dragons territory Linton pointed to the posts, awarding Ulster a penalty try that Jackson converted to wrap up the bonus point before half-time.

The Dragons had a chance to get some points on the board before the interval but Rhys Jones struck a 35th minute penalty against the post.

The full-back made partial amends on the stroke of half-time with his second shot at the sticks but as the sides trooped off the home side were secure with a 28-point advantage.

And things went from bad to worse for the visitors six minutes after the break when flanker Sean Doyle ran in for Ulster’s fifth try, Jackson again successful with his shot at goal.

Now trailing 38-3 the Dragons struggled to conjure anything that suggested a comeback and rarely looked like improving on their away record in the RaboDirect PRO12.

David McIlwaine, on as a replacement for Bowe, looked to have grabbed Ulster’s sixth try only for the score to be ruled out for a forward pass in the build-up.

With the game entering its final quarter and both sides ringing the changes winger Ross Wardle pulled a try back for the Dragons, but Jones was wayward with the conversion and it stayed 38-8.

And it remained that way as Ulster solidified their top four position, extending their unbeaten run at Ravenhill in the RaboDirect PRO12, which now stretches back to September 13.

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