Worcester 52-7 Bristol: Warriors destroy Bears for record win

Josh Adams was among seven try scorers as Worcester put Bristol to the swords

Worcester picked up five valuable league points by trouncing Gallagher Premiership newcomers Bristol 52-7 at Sixways on Sunday.

The victory allowed Warriors to climb above Bears and into seventh place in the table, despite them only having won two of their opening six fixtures.

Bristol had no answer to the pace and power of an impressive Worcester and director of rugby Pat Lam will be hugely concerned at the way his side are leaking points, having conceded 45 in last week's game against Northampton.

Francois Venter, Ryan Mills, Marco Mama, Chris Pennell, Josh Adams, Bryce Heem and Gerrit-Jan van Velze scored their tries, with Duncan Weir converting all seven. Pennell added an early penalty to complete their tally.

Chris Pennell was also on the scoresheet for the Warriors at sixways

Bristol's try came from Yann Thomas which Ian Madigan converted.

The visitors took an early lead when Thomas ran in under the posts after a powerful burst from Jack Lam had scattered the home defence.

Madigan converted before Weir put the restart straight into touch to complete a miserable opening for Warriors.

However Worcester regrouped to pick up the next two scores. First Pennell fired over an excellent 55-metre penalty before a surge from Darren Barry gave Heem the chance to send Van Velze over in the corner.

Weir converted from the touchline before Madigan missed with a penalty, meaning Warriors led 10-7 at the end of an enterprising first quarter.

The hosts became increasingly dominant and after twice being held up over the line, they finally extended their lead when Mills received a pass from Francois Hougaard to dummy his way over.

It became one-way traffic with Bristol losing their composure under pressure as captain Siale Piutau lost them 10 metres by arguing with the referee. And it came as no surprise when they conceded a third when former player Mama brushed aside two tackles to score.

Kiwi Bryce Heem impressed again and scored another Premiership try

Moments before half-time it got even worse for the visitors when Venter intercepted a stray pass from John Afoa to run 80 metres for the bonus point try and a 31-7 interval lead.

The game was up for Bristol within three minutes of the restart. Following a superb touch-finder from Weir, Pennell forced his way over from close range.

Another try followed shortly afterwards when a loose pass from Piutau gifted Adams a 40-metre run in, and with another successful conversion from Weir, Warriors were out of sight.

Bristol reacted by making four changes as Luke Morahan, George Smith, Afoa and Madigan all departed in quick succession before Worcester's replacement prop, Ryan Bower, was sent off for a shoulder charge to the head.

It made no difference as Heem's try in the final minute took Worcester to their record Premiership win.