WORCESTER Warriors cruised to a bonus-point British and Irish Cup victory to confirm their place at the top of Pool Three and cement a home quarter-final.

Val Rapava Ruskin and Max Stelling both continued their fine scoring runs with first-half tries, despite a strong start from the visitors.

Flanker Sam Betty, who was impressive throughout, bundled his way over for a brace in the second-half, while Sam Smith and Andy Symons also got on the scoresheet.

The victory continues Warriors’ excellent form, which has helped them to 13 consecutive wins in all competitions.

Warriors named a completely different starting line-up to the one which defeated Munster ‘A’ in Cork as they looked to round off the pool stages in style.

Agustin Creevy made his first appearance of the season following his international duties for Argentina, while summer signings Alex Gordas and Heath Stevens were both named in the squad for the first time.

Nottingham had taken the lead in September’s Championship game, where Warriors secured a nine-try victory, and they did the same again as Liam O’Neill finished superbly, jinxing inside the covering Chris Pennell before dotting down in the corner.

Lamb got Warriors on the board five minutes later with a routine penalty before Tom Biggs raced 60 metres through the Nottingham defence.

Dan Mugford stretched Nottingham’s lead with a penalty in front of the posts before Warriors camped inside the away ‘22’ in search of their first try of the afternoon.

Mike Williams and GJ van Velze both smashed into their opposite numbers to make ground before the hosts thought they had a try as Jonathan Thomas unleashed Pennell to touch down. But the referee deemed the ball had been passed forward.

Warriors continued to press and got their reward just before the break as Rapava Ruskin found himself on the end of a sublime team move as the hosts scored one of their finest tries of the season.

The attack started on the right as the dangerous Stelling broke forward before the ball was exchanged between more than half the team as the likes of Biggs, Betty and Pennell moved the ball across the pitch to enable the giant Georgian prop to stampede his way over the tryline.

Nottingham’s seemingly impregnable defence suddenly crumbled as Ryan Mills off-loaded to Stelling, who strolled through to score underneath the posts.

Lamb’s second conversion gave Warriors a nine-point advantage at the break.

Warriors were dominating proceedings more and more as the game wore on and added a third try as Smith stole in after good work from Pennell.

But any thoughts of the hosts cruising through the second period were soon dispelled as Nottingham were awarded a penalty try after being prevented a score in the corner.

Betty was the next player to get his name on the scoresheet as he charged down a Nottingham clearance before touching down.

Stevens was introduced to the action on the hour mark for his debut but Nottingham kept their hopes of a comeback alive as replacement prop Jon Vickers bundled his way over.

There was no chance of the game fizzling out as the scoring continued when Betty leapt over from close range for his second try of the match.

Symons converted confidently as he made the score 38-22 with ten minutes remaining.

Nottingham began to fade as the match came to a close and Symons added a sixth try minutes before the end.