A TRY in the last play of the match from centre Ben Mosses broke Worcester Warriors’ hearts on a pulsating afternoon at Ashton Gate.

Fly-half Ignacio Mieres, who kicked four penalties and a conversion, looked to have sealed a dramatic win for Warriors seconds earlier when his three points put them 19-18 ahead.

But Mosses had the final word in an absorbing Greene King IPA Championship curtain-raiser when he picked up an off-load from Ross Johnston to burst through and win it 23-19.

Mosses’ intervention was the last twist in a dramatic finale, which included a 69th-minute try from former Warriors winger David Lemi, who came back to haunt his old club.

The Samoan, who left Sixways in the summer, popped up with just 11 minutes remaining to score the try which levelled the action-packed derby in front of a bumper 8,549 crowd.

Matthew Morgan converted to put Bristol ahead for the first time and he later missed a fairly straightforward penalty attempt.

Warriors’ director of rugby, Dean Ryan will be wondering how his side managed to squander their 19-18 lead.

But perhaps the crucial moment in the match was 20 minutes into the second period when Warriors were awarded a succession of penalties in front of the Bristol posts.

Bristol collapsed three scrums in a row and referee Matt Carley also warned the hosts’ front row twice. But the home crowd erupted with delight when Carley penalised Warriors at the scrum and the visitors had missed their golden opportunity.

Warriors produced a dominant first-half display and deservedly led 10-3 at the interval.

Mike Williams, the Zimbabwean-born forward, was a colossal presence in the opening half for the Warriors, scoring a try and also picking up a yellow card for a tackle.

But Warriors’ second-half performance was in stark contrast to the opening period after Andy Robinson’s men hit back to control the game for long periods.

Earlier, Warriors made a blistering start and almost broke the deadlock after just 25 seconds.

Centre Andy Symons took the ball into contact and the ball was swept to Chris Pennell.

However, with Tom Biggs waiting to pounce on the left touchline, the ball sailed into touch.

Mieres refused an early shot at goal in favour of an attacking line-out.

Warriors piled on the pressure but Bristol were strong in defence.

However, Worcester broke the deadlock in the 15th minute through Mieres’ opening penalty after Bristol were caught offside.

Mieres almost doubled the visitors’ lead when a long-range effort from the half-way line drifted just wide of the left-hand post.

Bristol eventually got into the Warriors’ half and Ian Evans was hauled down just a couple of yards from the try-line after a quick burst down the left from Anthony Perenise.

But Warriors remained on the front foot and Williams finished off a prolonged spell of pressure, stretching to cross the whitewash for his opening try in the 31st minute.

Referee Carley asked for assistance from the television match official before awarding Williams the score.

Mieres converted from in front of the posts and Williams was in the thick of the action soon afterwards when he was sin-binned.

Morgan’s 36th-minute penalty eventually put Bristol on the scoreboard and the hosts made a great start to the second-half.

A superb cross-kick from Morgan found former Warrior Andy Short, who gathered safely and pushed aside the attempted tackle of Pennell. Morgan missed the touch-line conversion.

Warriors led 10-8 and Mieres stretched the advantage with another penalty after a high tackle on Biggs.

Bristol responded next with another penalty from Morgan in the 52nd minute. It was Mieres’ turn next but his effort rattled a post.

With 13 minutes left, Warriors looked to be in a strong position with Mieres atoning for his earlier miss to put the visitors 16-11 in front.

But the drama was far from finished and, with 11 minutes remaining, Lemi collected an offload to level and Morgan converted to put Bristol ahead for the first time.

With just one minute left, fly-half Mieres restored Warriors’ slender advantage with his fourth penalty of the match.

But, deep in stoppage time, Mosses broke through to score as Warriors snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in the most agonising fashion.