Warriors battle in Bristol

Worcester ruined Bristol's farewell to the Memorial Stadium with a 22-21 win.

The Warriors scored all the game's three tries in front of a crowd of more than 9,000.

Bristol fly-half Jason Strange claimed all the home side's points and it looked as though he would snatch victory with the final kick of the game.

But his 15-metre drop-goal attempt was charged down by the advancing Warriors defence as Worcester held on to complete a double over their West country rivals.

Joe Carlisle made his first Premiership start for Worcester at fly-half and he had a hand in their opening try as Miles Benjamin went through in the left corner.

Carlisle was off target with his touchline conversion attempt but opposite number Strange replied quickly with a 25-metre penalty followed five minutes later by a second from 40 metres out.

Problems

Strange landed two more penalties and the visitors' problems got worse in the final 10 minutes of the half when blindside flanker Tom Wood was yellow carded by referee Ashley Rowden.

Wood had illegally tackled Bristol's acting skipper Shaun Perry after the England scrum-half took a tap penalty.

But Worcester managed to keep Bristol at bay and work their way to within striking distance of the Bristol line.

With three minutes of the half remaining, they were awarded a penalty but Carlisle's attempt went wide of the uprights.

But the Warriors levelled the scores at 12-12 on the stroke of half-time as New Zealand centre Sam Tuitupou danced his way through slack defending, with Carlisle finally making a kick to convert the try.

Bristol started the second half in spirited fashion but they were unable to break through a solid Warriors defence.

They were awarded a couple of penalties and Strange maintained his perfect record by drilling them both between the posts.

Ten minutes into the half and Worcester were again down to 14 men when Benjamin was yellow carded for preventing the ball being released when he tackled flanker Iain Grieve. Strange kicked the resultant penalty.

Battle

But the visitors continued to battle away as Marcus Galley collected a crossfield chip and slipped the ball to centre Rico Gear, who was quickly up in support to score the visitors' third try. Replacement fly-half Shane Drahm converted from out wide.

With the game going in to the final 15 minutes, Strange missed his first penalty attempt and five minutes later Drahm put Worcester in front again with a penalty from wide on the left.

There was still time for Strange to win it but he came up short and it will now be three years before Bristol can claim a win on this ground - in a new 18,500 all-seater stadium.