Premiership: Gloucester 36-16 Worcester Warriors

Gloucester climbed to third in the Premiership table as they ran in six tries to earn a 36-16 bonus-point derby win over Worcester at Kingsholm.

The Cherry and Whites led only 10-9 at the break after first-half tries from James Hanson and Charlie Sharples.

But, aided by a yellow card for Chris Pennell, the hosts scored four more after the break through Ollie Thorley (2), Freddie Clarke and Jaco Visagie.

Warriors did respond with the game's final try from winger Bryce Heem.

That was converted by Duncan Weir, who had earlier kept his side in the game with three first-half penalties.

Alan Solomons' Warriors won 25-15 the last time the two clubs met at Sixways in February - but Worcester have won only once on the road in the Premiership this season. And they have only ever won once at Kingsholm, 13-6, in April 2009.

Without their talismanic injured scrum-half Francis Hougaard, and still missing rested England and Lions centre Ben Te'o, the visitors looked set for a battering when Gloucester made such a great start.

The hosts scored two tries inside the first 20 minutes, from hooker Hanson and a ninth of the season for winger Sharples, the Premiership's top scorer.

If Danny Cipriani had had his kicking boots on, Gloucester could have been 19-0 up, but the discarded England stand-off missed both conversions from wide out, as well as his first much easier early penalty attempt.

That allowed Warriors' own number 10 Weir to close his side to within a point at 10-9 down by the break. And Pennell was just wide with a long-range penalty attempt that would even have given Warriors an unlikely lead.

But centre Thorley went in before flanker Freddie Clarke also crossed, followed quickly by the loss of Pennell, who was yellow carded for an aerial challenge on Sharples.

Gloucester quickly cashed in against 14 men with a fifth try for Visagie from a driving maul, just a minute after he had come on, followed by a second for Thorley.

But Warriors did at least keep their heads up to earn the game's final score from winger Heem, allowing Weir the chance to take his tally to 11 points with the boot.

Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann:

"We knew we had to start well. We became confident by scoring two well-constructed tries but then there was a phase where we made silly mistakes.

"We couldn't believe that we were only point ahead at half-time but we took the interval messages on board and got the scoreboard rolling again.

"When the game was wrapped up, we again made silly mistakes. But I'm satisfied with the win and very pleased with the extra point against a quality side.

Warriors director of rugby Alan Solomons told BBC Hereford & Worcester:

"We were outmuscled. They were on top of us for most of the game and Chris Pennell's yellow card made no different to the result.

"The physicality of their pack was crucial and they dominated the collisions today but we could have played better.

"Francois Hougaard would have made a difference as he is more physical, and we lost GJ van Velze at half time."

Gloucester: Woodward; Sharples, Twelvetrees, Williams, Thorley; Cipriani, Heinz (capt); Hohneck, Hanson, Balmain, Savage, Slater, Clarke, Kriel, Morgan.

Replacements: Polledri for Kriel (57), Rapava Ruskin for Hohneck (57), Visagie for Hanson (57), Braley for Heinz (62), Knight for Balmain (62), Trinder for Cipriani (67), Mostert for Slater (72), Hudson for Woodward (73).

Worcester: Pennell; Heem, Venter, Mills, Adams; Weir, Heaney; Black, Singleton, Schonert; Bresler, Phillips, Hill, Williams, Van Velze (capt).

Replacements: Cox (for van Velze ht), Barry for Williams (50), Arr for Heaney (55), Waller for Black (55), Annett for Singleton (55), Milasinovich for Schonert (62), Shillcock for Pennell (68),

Not used: Olivier.

Sin-bin: Pennell (58).

Referee: Thomas Foley