The season kicks off with a visit to Worcester. In the equivalent last season Bristol lost 24 – 15 in a bitterly cold Friday evening game. It was a close fought affair with the difference between the sides being the kicking of former Bristol player Shane Drahm. The sin-binning of two Bristol players didn’t do much either to help the side to an away victory.

Our opening fixture last time was of course a famous last minute win against B**h, and it was our success in the opening two matches that to a large extent gave the team and supporters confidence in Premiership survival. Worcester did the double over us last season, but both matches were close affairs and we should be stronger this time around.

Both teams took on the Cardiff Blues in pre-season with Bristol’s stalwart defence proving to be decisive in earning victory. In contrast Worcester were beaten by a sizable margin. It is often tempting to read too much into these friendly games, but giving in to that temptation leads to the conclusion that Bristol are well capable of winning at Sixways. After all, if we can win at Kingsholm…

Speaking of Kingsholm, Worcester have added former Gloucester winger Marcel Garvey to their squad, and of course the former Bristol favourite ‘Limping’ Lee Best. If these two can rejuvenate faltering careers they will do much to help Worcester to a successful league campaign, but with luck not at Bristol’s expense.

The Bristol match squad is:

Josh Taumalolo, Lee Robinson, Rob Higgitt, Andy Reay, Craig Morgan, Jason Strange, Shaun Perry, Dave Hilton, Mark Regan, Darren Crompton, Roy Winters, Gareth Llewellyn, Matt Salter (capt), Joe El Abd, Dan Ward-Smith Replacements: Alex Clarke, David Blaney, Alfie To'oala, Geraint Lewis, Brian O'Riordan, Danny Gray, Walter Pozzebon