Worcester Warriors produced a breathtaking display of attacking rugby as they spoiled the Bristol party with a stunning 22-21 victory at the Memorial Stadium.
It was an emotional final day for the home side as they waved goodbye to the Memorial Stadium for two years for ground redevelopment before a move to Newport next season.
But Warriors were in no mood to let the celebrations stop their stunning end to the campaign in recent weeks as they secured another superb victory.
Miles Benjamin, Sam Tuitupou and Rico Gear all scored tries as Warriors produced a stunning show of attacking rugby while home fly half Jason Strange kept his side ticking over with seven penalties.
Mike Ruddock made a number of changes for the Guinness Premiership clash with young fly half Joe Carlisle handed a starting spot ahead of Shane Drahm and back row James Collins replacing Pat Sanderson,
Dale Rasmussen was rested, with New Zealand international Rico Gear coming in for the hard-hittting centre, and lock Will Bowley took the spot of Greg Rawlinson.
Wales international Chris Horsman and Fijian powerhouse Netani Talei made welcome returns to the bench after lengthy injury spells out.
Prop Tony Windo made his 100th Premiership league appearance after a long and distinguished career in the week he announced his retirement to move into coaching.
Warriors stole the kick-off and Collins made an immediate impression with a powerful run but the early ball was turned over when fellow new face Bowley knocked on.
Worcester took the early lead when Chris Pennell broke a tackle after neat interplay from Gear and Carlisle and the full back fed Miles Benjamin who broke through to slide in the corner for his 13th try of the campaign and a dream start.
Bristol hit back with captain for the day Drew Hickey caught offside and Jason Strange slotted the penalty to put some points on the board for the home side.
Worcester went back on the front foot with the forwards taking the ball on and Tom Wood making yards before the ball spilled forward. Bristol booted clear and Benjamin raced back, but when he tried to skip away from the attacking home players was caught holding on and Strange nudged his side ahead with a penalty.
Sloppy lineout play lost Warriors the ball deep in their own half but a stray forward pass denied the home side as they looked to go wide right with real pace and venom.
A loose pass from Carlisle was intercepted by David Lemi and the home side kicked for the corner after Wood was penalised for not rolling away. Bristol poured forward and, despite a stray boot at the back of a ruck, another penalty from Strange saw them go further ahead.
Worcester thought they had broken through when Collins charged down a kick from Sam Cox but the ball ran kindly for the lucky Bristol centre and a penalty against Craig Gillies for coming in at the side gave the hosts the reprieve they needed.
The high penalty count was killing the visitors but when Bristol were hit for playing the ball on the floor the chance was given to Carlisle to reduce the deficit. But his 40 metre kick dropped short and Bristol hacked clear through Perry.
A charged down grubber from Carlisle saw Powell scamper back to rescue the situation but the same problems again haunted Warriors as Hickey failed to roll away and Strange nailed another kick.
Bristol got caught napping down the blindside from the restart and Hickey and Bowley showed neat hands before the pass to Wood was just behind the young back row as it looked to open up.
Referee Ashley Rowden was again centre of attention when he binned Wood just before the break after he cynically pulled down Perry after not retreating 10 metres.
The numerical advantage, though, did little to stop a revival from Warriors as good hands down the right saw Benjamin make yards before Bowley stepped inside to go for the line before being dragged down. A neat move involving Garvey again almost unlocked the door before Carlisle sliced a penalty wide.
Worcester should have scored two minutes before the break when Collins broke clear but the visitors failed to use the overlap and a glorious chance was gone.
But within seconds the Warriors roared back after a moment of sublime skill from Sam Tuitupou who from nowhere broke past the defence and skipped past the full back to slide in under the posts, Carlisle drilled the extras to level the scores at the break.
Bristol started the second half on the front foot and Strange kicked them back ahead after 45 minutes after Warriors were caught offside.
Luke Arscott made a break after bursting through in midfield and Bristol continued to pile forward, despite the suspicion of a forward pass, before a knock on halted their charge. A scrum penalty and the trusty boot of Strange pushed the hosts six points ahead.
A trio of changes saw Netani Talei, Shane Drahm and Chris Fortey introduced but within seconds Miles Benjamin was sin-binned after being penalised by Rowden for not releasing after his superb saving tackle denied Iain Grieve a certain try.
Worcester hit back with another stunning score as Powell benefitted from Collin stealing ball at the breakdown and cross kicking to Garvey and he collected before feeding Gear who tore away to score in the corner. Drahm added the extras to cut the lead to 21-19.
Bristol hit back with real pressure on the Worcester defence but some great defence saw them hold firm before the hosts lost the ball forward in the tackle.
Prop ace Horsman entered the battle to signal the end of his long injury layoff and Worcester were invigorated as they looked to pressure for a score to take them ahead.
Talei made a break in midfield and Tuttupou tore up on his shoulder to take the ball on but his pass wide to Gear which would have seen a fourth try was plucked from the air by David Lemi.
Greg Rawlinson and Ryan Powell were introduced as the game entered a thrilling final quarter. The reliable boot of Strange misfired after 67 minutes as he sliced a kickable penalty wide and Worcester responded with Tuitupou and Mullan combining before a Bristol hand knocked the ball on before a scrum penalty saw Drahm put Warriors a point ahead.
The thrilling encounter continued as Lemi made a run from deep and Benjamin just got back to drag opposite number Lee Robinson into touch. Bristol enjoyed possession at the end but when Strange dropped into the pocket to try and slot a winning drop goal it was charged down by Craig Gillies to spark celebrations from the visitors.
Timeline:
04m Benjamin t 0-5
08m Strange p 3-5
13m Strange p 6-5
21m Strange p 9-5
27m Strange p 12-5
40m Tuitupou t Carlisle c 12-12
45m Strange p 15-12
49m Strange p 18-12
52m Strange p 21-12
54m Gear t Drahm c 21-19
71m Drahm p 21-22
Warriors: 01 Tony Windo (Fortey 50 (Windo 67)), 02 Matt Mullan, 03 Tevita Taumoepeau (Horsman 56), 04 Will Bowley (Rawlinson 63), 05 Craig Gillies, 06 Tom Wood (Talei 50), 07 James Collins, 08 Drew Hickey, 09 Matt Powell (R Powell 63), 10 Joe Carlisle (Drahm 50), 11 Miles Benjamin, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 13 Rico Gear, 14 Marcel Garvey, 15 Chris Pennell
Replacements: 16 Chris Horsman, 17 Chris Fortey, 18 Greg Rawlinson, 19 Netani Talei, 20 Ryan Powell, 21 Shane Drahm, 22 Thinus Delport