CRAIG Gillies' dramatic injury-time charge-down of Jason Strange's drop-goal effort sealed a tense 22-21 victory for a determined Worcester Warriors outfit to complete a Guinness Premiership double over Bristol.

Strange's seven penalties from eight attempts had put the hosts ahead. But Bristol's hopes of going out with a bang at the soon-to-be redeveloped Memorial Stadium prior to a two-year switch to Newport foundered against the resolute Warriors.

The victory, which was brought about courtesy of Miles Benjamin's 13th try of the season coupled with a score apiece from Kiwi contingent Rico Gear and Sam Tuitupou, temporarily edged Worcester up to 10th place in the table.

Despite out-scoring the home side three tries to nil, Worcester had to rely on the pin-point boot of Shane Drahm - a second-half replacement for young stand-off Joey Carlisle - to impressively slot a conversion and a penalty from either touchline to edge their noses in front.

Drahm gave Worcester their one-point lead with eight minutes still left on the clock and Mike Ruddock's men then had to withstand a Bristol barrage in the closing minutes - including Strange's drop-goal with the last kick of the match - to earn the points.

Man-of-the-match James Collins and Tuitupou attacked the Bristol defence in the early exchanges, but the hosts were awarded a scrum after second-row Will Bowley knocked-on at the break down.

However, Carlisle, making his first start for the club, showed slick hands to get the ball down the line to fellow young gun Chris Pennell and the full-back made a good break before sending Miles Benjamin sliding over for his 13th try of the season in the fourth minute. Carlisle missed the conversion.

Captain for the day Drew Hickey went off-side following the re-start and Strange pulled three points back from in front of the posts.

Carlisle's inexperience showed as he floated a risky pass out wide inside his 22 and was intercepted before play was bought back after Tom Wood was penalised for not rolling away at the breakdown. Strange kicked for the corner and Bristol threatened the Worcester line. As the move broke down, whistle-happy referee Ashley Rowden brought play back for a penalty to Bristol for not releasing, which Strange slotted with ease.

Collins then charged down Sam Cox's attempted clearance, but the chance evaporated when Gillies was guilty of coming in at the side. Perry was then spotted handling the ball in a ruck, but Carlisle's 40-metre penalty attempt didn't have the legs to reach the posts.

Skipper Hickey was again guilty of not rolling away on the half-hour mark, leaving Strange a simple opportunity to extend his record to four from four as Warriors' high penalty count threatened to undermine their challenge.

As Perry tried to take a quick tap-and-go, Wood cynically blocked the Bristol number nine and was rewarded with 10 minutes in the bin for his troubles. The hosts' scrum-half was then penalised for holding on too long at the bottom of a ruck and Carlisle dispatched the penalty into touch.

The ball was worked down the line from the throw-in where Benjamin and Bowley showed good hands to keep the move alive before Worcester earned the put-in five metres from the line.

From the scrum, Tuitupou found Marcel Garvey at pace on the loop, but the in-form wing was well held before Bristol were hit for playing the ball on the floor. Nerves got the better of youngster Carlisle, though, and he shanked his simple kick wide.

On the stroke of half-time, Collins made a great break, but failed to use the overlap as the line neared and Garvey was bundled into touch. Bristol booted clear, but Warriors staged a late attack and the ball was spun to Kiwi ace Tuitupou, who side-stepped two defenders and glided over beside the posts. Carlisle found his range to add the extras.

As Bristol began the second-half on the front-foot, Worcester were penalised for straying off-side and the reliable Strange drilled his fifth kick of the afternoon through the posts. An infringement at the scrum by Warriors five minutes later, saw a familiar outcome as Strange extended the hosts' advantage to 18-12 and it looked like the game was drifting away from the visitors.

Bristol flanker Iain Grieve opened a huge hole in the Warriors' defence and charged to within 10 metres of the line before being hauled down by Benjamin. The winger deliberately killed the ball as he waited for support and was the second Warrior to go to the bin as Strange slotted his seventh penalty.

Worcester hit straight back though with their third try as Collins robbed the ball at the breakdown before Powell's clever cross-kick was gathered by Garvey, who popped the ball to the on-rushing Rico Gear on the loop to go over in the corner. Drahm expertly split the posts from the touchline.

Wales international prop Chris Horsman and powerhouse flanker Netani Talei entered the fray after long injury lay-offs and the duo were soon in the thick of the action.

Worcester regained the lead in the 72nd minute when departing Aussie Drahm boom-ed over an impressive penalty after Bristol had infringed at a scrum.

The hosts laid seige to the Warriors' try-line during the last few minutes and set up Strange for the drop-goal, but Gillies got to the stand-off and charged down his effort.