STEVE Diamond believes reducing time on the training field is benefitting his side after he earned his first win as Worcester Warriors boss against Bristol Bears on Friday night.

Diamond said he has removed all contact from training sessions in an attempt to keep players fresh and it showed against Bristol as his side ended a five match losing streak in the Gallagher Premiership with a physically dominant victory over the Bears.

"What is benefitting the lads is reducing training times," he said.

"They are not getting killed at training. Since I have arrived I have taken all contact out, so they are fresh at weekends.

"We are still disappointed with the penalty count again but we have a set of lads who get stuck in and that's what impresses me most.

"What they have got is courage, they stick to their job. They make errors but they put them behind them and get on with it."

It was a confident display at Sixways from the hosts, who raced into a 14-0 lead after 20 minutes thanks to tries from returning Scotland winger Duhan van der Merwe and captain Ashley Beck.

Bristol responded with two tries of their own before the break as Steven Luatua and Max Lahiff crossed to see the sides level at 14-14 at the break.

Tongan international Sione Vailanu scored the eventual winner five minutes after half-time with a superb solo try and Diamond praised both his internationals after their all-action performances.

"He was brilliant," Diamond added.

"If you give him front foot ball, that's what he can do, he can cause problems so that was fantastic to see.

On winger Duhan: "He is world class, he has come back and showed a great attitude.

"I have promised him he can go on holiday to the sunshine whenever he wants if he plays well for us and gives us that attitude when we have him.

"He is a big lift to the team to have a player like him in the squad."

Worcester play Harlequins next Friday night, again under the lights at Sixways, as they look to kick-start a winning run.

But for now, Diamond was pleased to see his side front up and get a much needed win under his belt.

"Winning builds team spirit," he continued.

"You can't do that with defeats. In the last few weeks we have been beaten up so to get a win against a good side like Bristol, it gives us something to build on.

"I come from a environment when I only lost about 20 times at home in 10 years at home, that's what you have to build. to push up the league you have to win your home games."