THREE tries from driving mauls highlighted Worcester Warriors’ forward dominance as they kept alive their Aviva Premiership promotion bid.

Warriors’ pack overwhelmed London Scottish, particularly in the second-half, to power Dean Ryan’s men to an ultimately comfortable 38-15 victory in the second leg of the Championship play-off semi-final.

Leading 27-22 from the first leg, it wasn’t all plain sailing for Worcester, who fell behind to an early try from Matt Williams after a five-metre scrum.

Worcester also lost Ben Howard, who was clattered by Neil Best, in the early stages and Dean Hammond, who hurt his thigh scoring a try.

In fact, Worcester led only 13-8 at the interval and had an anxious moment on the stroke of half-time when Kieran Moffat made an incisive break from deep.

But Warriors turned the screw with two quick-fire tries at the beginning of the second period and were worthy of a 28-point aggregate triumph.

Worcester now face promotion favourities Bristol in a shoot-out over two legs for a place in the Aviva Premiership.

Scottish, who showed plenty of character, had both Josh Thomas Brown and skipper Mark Bright dispatched to the sin-bin in the latter stages.

Worcester’s front row of Val Ruskin, Gus Creevy and Nick Schonert gained the initiative in the scrum, which set the tone on a rain-swept night at Sixways.

Recalled flanker Sam Lewis crossed the whitewash twice from driving mauls and skip - per Gerrit-Jan van Velze also touched down in similar fashion.

Hammond raced away to score after Cooper Vuna leapt to gather a high ball and promptly charged through a gap in midfield to deliver a superb inside off-load to the supporting wing.

Fly-half Ryan Lamb was assured behind the pack and kicked intelligently to finish with an 18-point haul, including two close-range penal - ties in the final 10 minutes.

Naturally all eyes were on Jean-Baptiste Bruzulier, parachuted into the starting line-up after a broken foot suffered by Charlie Mul - chrone and the suspension of Jonny Arr.

And Bruzulier, who captained Warriors to British and Irish Cup success last month, hardly put a foot wrong in his first Championship start of the season.

There was even time towards the end to give a senior debut to 17-year-old Warwick School pupil Jamie Shillcock, who became the youngest player to feature in a Championship play-off match.

Vastly experienced locks Jonathan Thomas and James Percival added punch to Warriors’ pack, with Mike Williams, at flanker, showing the appetite which secured a contract at Leices - ter next term.

Two Lamb penalties put Worcester 6-5 in front before Lewis scored a converted try.

Peter Lydon’s penalty reduced arrears to 13-8 but Hammond’s converted try in the opening minute of the second-half, followed by Van Velze’s driven effort, swept the hosts 25-8 ahead.

Against the run of play, a mistake from the otherwise assured Ryan Mills gifted the visitors a soft try.

Mills attempted to chip the ball over Lydon only for the full-back to gather and run 15 metres to the try line.

Lydon’s conversion cut Worcester’s lead to 25-15.

Lewis’ converted try killed off the tie before two late penalties from Lamb rubbed salt into Scottish wounds.