DALE Rasmussen’s thumbs-up as he was carried off on a stretcher at Sixways was a brave attempt to disguise how he and Worcester must have been feeling. The centre was knocked out in the 73rd minute after a collision with Josh Taumalolo, the Bristol full back, and is likely to be out for at least three weeks because of severe concussion.
Bristol imposed themselves from the kick-off and Shane Drahm’s handling error led to the first try from Gareth Llewellyn. Phil Murphy’s try just before half-time offered a chance of a Worcester comeback but all hope was snuffed out by Lee Robinson’s second score.
SCORERS: Worcester: Try: Murphy (36min). Penalty goals: Drahm 2 (19, 25). Bristol: Tries: Llewellyn (21), Robinson 2 (33, 69), Morgan (75), Perry (78). Conversions: Strange 2. Penalty goals: Strange 4 (8, 16, 62, 66).
SCORING SEQUENCE (Worcester first): 0-3, 0-6, 3-6, 3-13, 6-13, 6-18, 11-18 (half-time), 11-21, 11-24, 11-29, 11-36, 11-41.
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WORCESTER: L Best; T Delport, D Rasmussen (rep: M Tucker, 73), S Whatling (rep: T Lombard, 60), M Garvey; S Drahm, N Runciman (rep: M Powell, 28); L Fortey, C Fortey (rep: B Gotting, 54-77), C Horsman (sin-bin, 44-54; rep: T Taumoepeau, 54), R Blaze (rep: C Gillies, 55), P Murphy, P Sanderson, T Harding ( rep: G Quinnell, 71), K Horstmann.
BRISTOL: J Taumalolo (rep: W Pozzebon 76); L Robinson, R Higgitt, A Raey, C Morgan (rep: D Gray, 76); J Strange, S Perry; D Hilton (rep: A Clarke, ??), M Regan (rep: D Blaney, 71), D Crompton, R Winters, G Llewellyn, M Salter (sin-bin, 52-62; rep: A Tooala, 71), J El Abd, D Ward-Smith (rep: G Lewis , 32).
Referee: D Pearson.
Attendance: 9,620.