Fionn Carr's 77th-minute try sealed a hard-earned 29-23 win for Connacht against Newport Gwent Dragons at the Showground as the Guinness PRO12 season began.

A superb break from Bundee Aki set up replacement Carr's clinching score, but the doughty Dragons, who improved significantly in the second half, took home a losing bonus point thanks to Tom Prydie's penalty with the last kick of the game.

New Connacht flanker Nepia Fox-Matamua scored from a lineout catch and drive and Jack Carty kicked three penalties as the hosts led 14-3 at the interval.

However, the Irish province were badly caught out on the resumption, the visitors' debutant scrum-half Sarel Pretorius burrowing over from a ruck to close the gap to just four points.

Danie Poolman's unconverted effort and a further Carty penalty, in response to a Jason Tovey kick, saw Connacht wrestle back control and they did just enough to get over the finish line despite leaking a James Thomas try with five minutes to go.

Ulster made an ideal start to their campaign with a bonus-point win over a lacklustre Opsreys side at the Kingspan Stadium.

Man of the match Stuart McCloskey scored 13 points from a try, a conversion and two penalties while the other home side scores in a 28-6 win came from skipper Rob Herring, Wiehahn Herbst and Luke Marshall with the latter's late run grabbing the maximum points for Neil Doak's side.

Ulster, who led 15-6 at half-time, were never greatly troubled by the Welsh side who were missing a dozen of their frontliners to World Cup duty while the Belfast side have eight away.

Edinburgh made a winning start as they edged a 16-9 victory over Leinster in a keenly contested encounter at the Meggetland ground.

Winger Damien Hoyland had a try double for the hosts, whose other points came from penalties by Nathan Fowles and Jack Cuthbert.

Three penalties by Isa Nacewa accounted for the Leinster points.