Wasps moved themselves clear of the Premiership relegation battle with a 28-16 bonus-point win over Worcester.

The home side scored three tries in 15 first-half minutes through Nathan Hughes, Marcus Watson and Zurabi Zhvania.

Warriors hit back through Sam Lewis but Hughes' second try just after the hour mark sealed the win.

Wasps subsequently climb to seventh and leave Worcester deep in the relegation battle in 11th.

After Duncan Weir's early penalty had put the visitors in front, Wasps took control of the contest.

Hughes' first score was given after a referral to the Television Match Official, before Watson crossed and Georgian prop Zurabi Zhvania burrowed over from short range.

The shell-shocked Warriors regrouped and after a good spell of pressure of their own, Sam Lewis went over and Duncan Weir added the extras.

Wasps centre Gaby Lovobalavu was then yellow carded for an early tackle on Welsh wing Josh Adams.

Weir kicked to the corner as the visitors looked for a second try before half time but Francois Hougaard was tackled and turned over by James Gaskell as he darted for the line.

Scotland international Weir knocked over a penalty on the stroke of half time to reduce the gap to 21-13.

After Wasps outside-half Lima Sopoaga had effortlessly kicked three conversions, he had a moment to forget when he missed a penalty in front of the posts, in the first action of the second period.

Warriors skipper Chris Pennell showed him how it was done just minutes later when he kicked a penalty from halfway to cut the gap to five.

But Wasps held off the revival to secure the bonus point when Hughes added his second of the afternoon.

After being checked by the TMO for a forward pass, the try was given and Sopoaga added his fourth conversion of the match.

• BBC Sport assesses the Premiership relegation battle

Wasps: Le Roux; Watson, Daly, Lovobalavu, Bassett; Sopoaga, Simpson; Zhvania, Cruse, Stuart, Launchbury (capt), Gaskell, Shields, Carr, Hughes.

Replacements: Johnson, McIntyre, Cooper-Woolley, Rowlands, Morris, Hampson, Miller, De Jongh.

Worcester: Pennell; Howe, Te'o, Mills (capt), Adams; Weir, Hougaard; Black, Annett, Schonert, Bresler, Barry, Hill, Lewis, Mama.

Replacements: Taufete'e, Waller, Milasinovich, Kitchener, Du Preez, Heaney, Venter, Van Breda.

Referee: Matthew Carley

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