CUTTING out “silly errors” was the catalyst for Worcester Warriors’ second-half assault in their 33-20 victory against Newport Gwent Dragons, according to coach Sam Vesty.

Warriors trailed 6-0 just a minute before the break in Saturday’s European Challenge Cup Pool Three clash at Sixways.

However, a converted try on the stroke of half-time from Val Rapava-Ruskin gave Warriors a 7-6 interval lead.

A touchdown from wing Dean Hammond and then two quick-fire penalty tries swept Warriors into an unassailable 29-6 advantage after 59 minutes.

Vesty insisted: “The words weren’t strong at half time because the boys did exactly what we set out to do from minute one. But we needed to do it without the silly penalties.

“We knew we were going about things the right way – it was just more of the same without the silly errors.

“We were more powerful than them - and power pays. In the end you can only hold out power for so long before it finally bears fruit.

“I am chuffed our pack went out and dominated and we scored a couple of nice tries from the backs but the victory was definitely down to the forwards.”

Warriors’ discipline let them down in the opening 20 minutes with flanker Sam Betty and lock Christian Scotland-Williamson dispatched to the sin bin.

And Vesty admits Warriors must improve on their discipline because he felt it gave Dragons a “leg up” in the first half.

“It was due to silly mistakes we got ourselves down to 13 men,” said Vesty.

“To weather the storm and come away just six points down during that period was a testament to the boys’ defence and showed how hungry they were not to let them through the line.

“They were silly penalties and it just put pressure on the whole team.

“It’s really important the penalties are minimised because we gave four or five silly penalties away which gave them a leg up in that first half in a game that as soon as the ball was away from that area we dominated.

“If we do that against a better side they will punish us more in that period and the the game can swing on things like that.

“You can look at all of the penalties in isolation but when they add up to four or five penalties over a 20-minute period you concede points most of the time.”

Vesty praised Warriors’ forwards for the win which keeps alive their European hopes and he said number eight Matt Cox “carried his heart out”.

Vesty added: “Biyi Alo is a big, strong man and he is improving every week and those guys have to take their opportunities when they get them.

“Connor Braid did very well too in his debut.

“To come in and boss the ship is never easy and he did excellently. He put in some fantastic kicks for the boys to chase and was solid in defence and did a great job.

“That squad, if they keep playing like that, will boost competition and that’s the one thing we really need at the club.”