Basement side Bristol closed the gap on second-from-bottom Newcastle after fly-half Ed Barnes landed a last-gasp penalty as they clinched a draw in this Guinness Premiership clash at Sixways.

They deserved more than the two points after leading twice thanks to tries from No 8 Dan Ward-Smith and wing Lee Robinson.

Newcastle had lost 20-3 at Leicester earlier but Bristol missed out on the chance to climb off the bottom after former Australia full-back Chris Latham crossed for a 74th-minute try.

Ward-Smith's 28th-minute try separated the sides at the break with the visitors' aggressive in defence after coming under stinging criticism is recent matches.

Worcester were reduced to 14 men after centre Dale Rasmussen held back Bristol wing Lee Robinson, who was trying to support a Neil Brew break on 20 minutes.

Fly-half Barnes could have broken the deadlock from the resulting penalty but he screwed his kick wide.

But Bristol took a deserved lead on 28 minutes when Robinson found some space on the left wing.

He handed off his opposite wing Chris Pennell but couldn't get through full-back Chris Latham.

Bristol retained possession and Ward-Smith went through for the try after spotting a gap in the midfield. Barnes converted.

Fly-half Eoghan Hickey replied with a penalty four minutes later but, with two minutes left before the break, Barnes extended Bristol's lead with a penalty.

The visitors defence held firm – they were also lucky not to have a player sin-binned – after Worcester threatened with the last play of the half.

But the Warriors blew their chance when centre Sam Tuitupou threw a forward pass before Hickey missed with a penalty.

Robinson was yellow carded on 43 minutes for an off the ball incident and they almost held out but conceded a penalty try on 49 minutes.

The visitors had been brave in defence, holding up prop Tevita Taumoepeau over the line, but referee Wayne Barnes went under the posts after Bristol collapsed a scrum.

Barnes also refused to penalise any Warrior after Bristol prop Jason Hobson fell to the floor when the front rows had squared up to each other.

Worcester regained the lead on 59 minutes, Hickey slotting a penalty after lock Robert Sidoli tackled a player in the line-out.

Robinson turned from villain to hero on 64 minutes when he crossed for Bristol's second try.

Brew's long pass confused the defence, Luke Arscott gave Robinson some space and the winger beat Pennell before outsprinting Latham to the line. Barnes added the touchline conversion.

But the lead lasted only 10 minutes as Chris Latham dived over after good handling by the Warriors drew in the Bristol defenders. Hickey added the touchline conversion for the hosts to lead 20-17.

Bristol looked like they were heading for defeat but No 8 Kai Horstmann tackled David Lemi high and, with the last kick of the match, Barnes stepped to kick the resulting penalty.