Harlequins went back to the top on Sunday with a nervy, four-try victory over London Welsh but left Oxford fuming at the quality of refereeing and especially from part-time referees.
Conor O'Shea, the second director of rugby in a week to complain about poor standards in the Premiership, had just seen his side pulled back from leading 21-6 at half-time with the Exiles taking a bonus point that could be precious when the relegation places are decided. O'Shea said he did not want to detract from London Welsh's performance but then questioned why refereeing standards were failing to improve despite input from the clubs.
Last season O'Shea pulled out of the voluntary process whereby clubs gave feedback and while he said he would continue to play his part this season he asked: "If you are not seeing any improvement, what's the point?"
Regarding the performance of Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts from Worksop, he said: "I won't say it's as bad as I've seen but you'll go a long way to see worse. I feel wholeheartedly frustrated. Not all those guys are full time and our jobs are on the line each week."
O'Shea admitted that Harlequins had played a large part in their own second-half difficulties, throwing the intercept pass that paved the way for Ed Jackson's try eight minutes from time that gave London Welsh a valuable bonus point – only their fifth of the season.
The side who seemed so robust in the first third of the season will now begin to look over their shoulders at the fight against relegation going on not so far behind them but at least they have started to score tries again and they have moved 10 points ahead of Sale at the bottom.
With London Irish beating Gloucester on Saturday, Welsh are only five points off the 11th spot and do not have the cash for reinforcements. But, having come back from a lopsided first half against the champions, few would bet against their survival. Lyn Jones, their head coach, is eying Worcester in ninth place. "What we're showing is achievement and spirit," he said, "and we are good enough to stay in this league and to start building for next season."
It did not look that way at half-time. The surprise was that it took 15 minutes for Harlequins to score. During that time the Quins full-back Ollie Lindsay-Hague made three breaks but the champions looked to be going through a training routine rather than the real thing.
Nick Evans missed what for him is a simple penalty before normal service was resumed with a trademark Danny Care try, running off the back of a ruck, handing off his opposite number, Rob Lewis, and flopping over under the posts.
After that Quins got moving. Tom Williams sliced through the London Welsh defence, Tom Guest sidestepped out of a couple of tackles and handed the scoring pass to the centre George Lowe. Both conversions were straightforward for Evans and there was more than a hint that London Welsh would implode when their Russian lock, Kirill Kuleman, went to the sin-bin for a high tackle.
Instead Gordon Ross managed to open the London Welsh scoring when Harlequins' scrum were penalised. Somehow the Exiles managed to hang on to the three points for the duration of the yellow card but Chris Robshaw put Quins back on track for a bonus point by forcing his way over.
Evans landed the conversion but bit by bit London Welsh's veteran fly-half Gordon Ross nibbled into Quins' lead and the home side really began to believe when Tom Arscott and Seb Jewell set up Nick Scott's try. It was the first time London Welsh had crossed the line in four matches and a second was to follow when Jackson intercepted on half way.
In between Evans had redressed the balance with the try that gave Harlequins their bonus point and the New Zealander calmed their nerves further with two penalties before London Welsh's final stand saw them home with a point and something from a game that had looked long lost.
When Gavin Henson will be around to help London Welsh battle for survival is another matter. Jones seemed unsure when his Lions fly-half would return or even quite what is the nature of Henson's injury. "I never ever rush players back," he said.
London Welsh Arscott; Caprice, Jewell, Parker, Scott; Ross, Lewis (Keats, 51); Montanella, Briggs, Ion (Tideswell, 54), Mills (capt), Kuleman, Jackson, Hills (Bateman, 68), Balding (Corker, 71).
Tries Scott, Jackson Cons Ross 2 Pens Ross 4.
Sin-bin Kuleman 26, Tideswell 76.
Harlequins Lindsay-Hague; Williams, Lowe, Turner-Hall, Smith; Evans (Botica, 71), Care (Dickson, 57); Marler (Lambert, 59), Gray (Buchanan, 59), Johnston (Collier, 71), Matthews (Twomey, 70), Robson, Guest (Wallace,52), Robshaw (capt), Easter.
Tries Care, Lowe, Robshaw, Evans Cons Evans 4 Pen Evans.
Sin-bin Robson 76.
Referee Lyr Apgeraint-Roberts (Notts) Attendance 4,653.
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