Premiership: Bristol Bears beat Worcester Warriors 13-10

Bristol number eight Nathan Hughes displayed his strong ball-carrying skills to help his side to victory at Ashton Gate

Callum Sheedy's 68th-minute penalty allowed Bristol Bears to eventually see off the challenge of stubborn Worcester Warriors at Ashton Gate.

The fly-half opened the scoring from the tee before Luke Morahan crossed for the only try of the first period.

Worcester hit back immediately after the break when Nick David finished off a flowing move started by Ethan Waller.

Scott van Breda levelled with a long-range 67th-minute penalty before Sheedy quickly restored the hosts' lead.

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After coping with a strong Bears start, Warriors had a good chance to take the lead after 17 minutes but Jamie Shillcock could not find the supporting run of Ted Hill.

Sheedy scored a penalty shortly after the first quarter had elapsed, before Wallaby wing Morahan was the beneficiary of some quick-thinking by Bears scrum-half Harry Randall.

He took a quick penalty to catch the Warriors defence off-guard and allow Morahan in for the opening try. Sheedy converted to give the home side a 10-0 half-time lead.

The visitors started the second half in blistering style with a move that began from inside their own 22 before winger David scored his second try in as many Premiership starts.

Worcester's Nick David struck just two minutes into the second half

But Worcester's discipline had been a problem throughout and number eight Cornell du Preez was sin-binned for a high tackle after 58 minutes.

Despite being a man down, Warriors got back on level terms with 12 minutes remaining through Van Breda's penalty.

Du Preez returned but Warriors were only back to 15 men for a matter of seconds when substitute Andrew Kitchener was sin-binned for infringing at the breakdown, allowing Sheedy to kick the winning points.

Bristol's third successive win lifted them into the top three, whereas Worcester remain 10th after their fourth defeat in a row.

Bears head coach Pat Lam told BBC Radio Bristol:

"You get teams that want to play and you get teams that want to slow you down and scrap but that's why Worcester have been successful in staying in the Premiership and maybe why they're always in the bottom half as you need a bit more adventure.

"It was difficult through our own errors and their physicality and abrasiveness. We've got to understand the Premiership is a tough competition and teams play in different ways.

"It's halfway through the season and we are in the top four so that's a good marker.

"We still have ambitions to win the competition but ultimately top six and top four is what we want."

Warriors director of rugby Alan Solomons told BBC Hereford & Worcester:

"The lads were tremendous. That was one of the best defensive shifts I've seen. But the penalty count was high (14). It definitely merits me looking at it.

"It's what I call the soft moments when you lose your head for a second and do something silly. And that happens. We're dealing with human beings.

"We have a protocol where we take clips and if we feel it merits a meeting with them (referees) I insist that we do it. You have to keep on top of it because, if something is not right, it needs to be dealt with.

"I'm constantly referencing it in the team review and keep hammering it and eventually the message will get through."

Bristol Bears: Piutau; Morahan, O'Conor, Bedlow, Purdy; Sheedy (co-capt), Randall; Woolmore, Capon, Thiede, Attwood, Joyce, Vui (co-capt), Heenan, Hughes.

Replacements: Leiua for Purdy (41), Malton for Capon (48), Afoa for Thiede (48), D Thomas for Attwood (48), Hamilton for Heenan (52). Uren for Randall (56), Y Thomas for Woolmore (64), Lloyd for Bedlow (70),

Worcester Warriors: Shillcock; Humphreys, Lawrence, Beck, David; Weir, Hougaard; Waller, Moulds (capt), Schonert, Bresler, G Kitchener, Hill, Mama, Du Preez.

Replacements: Van Breda for Beck (33), Annett for Moulds (52), Owen for Waller (53), Palframan for Schonert (53), Lewis for Mama (56), Lance for Weir (63), A Kitchener for Bresler (68),

Not used: Heaney.

Sin-bin: Du Preez (57), A Kitchener (68).

Attendance: 12,867.

Referee: JP Doyle.