The journey down was quite uneventful apart from the clandestine stop at the services to remove another £2 from my pocket.

On arrival the weather was atrocious with driving rain, but what a great surface. Pity about the stewards, a golden hat for the whole group!!

Worcester got the game underway and immediately Drew Hickey and Neil Mason had their receivers under pressure.

The ball was recycled and into touch, an action repeated on many occasions by the Bristol Halfbacks during the game.

The Worcester pack once again looked in good form. Applying pressure in the loose and command of the lineouts early on. However this time they were using the backs more, was this a wise decision in the playing conditions

The Warriors were setting up good position from which to launch an attack.

However Bristol relieved the pressure with some good turnover ball kicked deep into Worcester's 22 making them attack from deep once again

A good ball out from Smiley found James Brown who cut back inside and through the first line of defence. Wes Davies then carried on the move before linking to Tommy Hayes coming in at pace. Tommy was tackled but managed to squirm over.

Bristol 0 : 7 Worcester

3 Minutes and we were in the lead, too early and too easily!!

From this point onwards the lack of good attacking lines from the backs, coupled with some real stiff defence, created a stalemate which would not be broken again in the game.

Let's not take anything away from Bristol the organised defence was an example of how to stop a superior side scoring.

But what it did do was remove any creativity from Bristol themselves. They were living of scraps and the vast amounts of spilt ball.

Even turnover ball could not be used by the Bristol players. Apart from a picked up loose ball when Worcester were on the Bristol line, Bristol never looked like breaking through the Worcester defence.

This makes for a dour game when only one side is prepared to have a go, but there is no doubt that Bristol had a plan to stop Worcester and it worked

Craig Gillies, Drew Hickey and Mark Gabey had total command of the lineout, theirs and our own.

So what was going wrong from that point onwards. We caught, drove on, recycled, recycled, fed out and somewhere someone would drop the ball or lose it in the tackle.

It was going to be one of those days!

Again and again the warriors worked themselves into a great attacking situation, but did not finish off!

There is no doubt that some of the refereeing decisions were very hard to understand.

As the Bristol supporters around us had warned it would be. The third time they have had this ref.

Smiley was replaced by Mat Powell due to a knee injury!

This did not hinder The Warriors in the slightest, Mat is a top class scrum half and he knows exactly what is needed.

Time after time The Warriors were stopped just short of the Bristol Line

Bristol did however force Worcester to give away penalties having Neil Mason sin binned for stamping at the ruck.

Bristol were forced to kick for penalties from just inside the Worcester half, not the weather for long range penalties each one falling well short.

That's as close as they got to scoring for the whole of the first half

In the shed a dark lonely figure was spotted.

Who could it be, let's move in a little closer. Aha,

Mr Bremner from Exeter, checking out Bristol their next opponents

Out came the Warriors for the second half.

Why ask them to use the same wet strip. Bristol had a complete change and looked fresh and more alert.

However forget the shirt it is what beats inside it that counts. The Warriors were going to hit Bristol with everything

The Worcester forwards now took control, it seemed only time before the flood gates would open.

No panic, it was now time to finish off the job started in the first half.

Bristol however had other ideas!

Defence is 60% training, 40% heart and desire, Bristol had 90% heart matched with great organisation

It was all Worcester camped in the Bristol 22.

Again and again they drove them backwards only to be stopped at the last centimetre. 2/3 times over the line but forced back without managing to place the ball down.

Bristol were forced to give away penalties, but I have to say not many. Worcester every time taking the 5 meter line and a certain try.

WRONG!!!

Bristol are the only side we have played this year that have stopped a catch and drive, not just once but 4 times.

Once again some of the penalties awarded to Bristol enabling them to relieve the pressure were very dubious, but the referee is the boss.

Still the forwards came back, steal virtually every line out awarded to Bristol.

The penalties only gave a short breathing space for the beleaguered Bristol defence.

When would the second try come. You thought if they could score one then more would follow

Finally Bristol fought their way out of defence and once again Worcester conceded a penalty, this time in a very kickable situation.

Up stepped Gray and Bristol were on the board

Bristol 3 : 7 The Warriors

Back came Worcester driving the Bristol pack back from their own 22 right upto the try line.

Once again a catch and drive was attempted and yet again it failed. the next infringement was right in front of the posts 5 meters out and the 3 points were taken

Final score Bristol 3 : 10 The  Warriors

Observations:

1.   This was a possible banana skin game, which was won.

2.   Bristol have improved immeasurably from the start of the season

3.   Their defence is well organised and full of desire

4.   Terrible weather which has to be a contributory fact to the low scoring game