BRISTOL’S director of rugby Andy Robinson was angry and disappointed after his Aviva Premiership dream died in a frantic finale at Sixways.

Robinson, the former Scotland and England head coach, felt some key decisions went in Warriors’ favour in the Championship play-off final second leg.

Robinson said: “I am hugely disappointed by what happened. I am really disappointed, particularly with what happened in the first half.

“I felt we had a couple of mauls going over the line and I believe they were illegally stopped.

“I really feel for the Bristol supporters, who were fantastic, and the players, who were immense in the way they went out and played the game.

“It’s those small margins that hurt you and small decisions that go against you.

“I can safely say this is the cruellest bit of sport that I’ve ever been involved in for a team, who were truly outstanding in the way they played the game.”

Warriors won the first leg 29-28 at Ashton Gate and fought back from 30-16 down at Sixways in the second leg to claim a last-ditch 30-30 draw. They prevailed 59-58 on aggregate to win the Championship title and secure promotion back to English rugby’s top tier at the first time of asking.

“I felt we got into a position to do what Worcester do in terms of the maul and we believe we could easily have had two penalty tries with the way we mauled,” said Robinson.

He was disappointed Bristol finished with just 13 men on the field after Jack Lam and Dwayne Peel were sin-binned.

“When you end up losing players at the end of the game that’s when the frustration comes in,” added Robinson.

“Credit to Worcester for what they did in the last five minutes and the way they stayed together, but we have to look at the whole way that maul is refereed.”

“For a whole season to come down to the first minute of the first match and the last minute of the second match is pretty tough and that’s something we have to be able to handle.

“The frustration and disappointment of what happened in the last five minutes is a cruel blow to take.”