RUGBY: London Welsh coach frustrated by lack of consistency (From Witney Gazette)

RUGBY: London Welsh coach frustrated by lack of consistency

9:40am Monday 4th March 2013 in Rugby By Ed Mezzetti, Sports reporter specialising in Rugby, Cricket and Athletics. Call me on 01865 425456

LONDON Welsh head coach Lyn Jones was left fuming at some “bewildering” refereeing after his side’s defeat at Saracens.

Jones felt referee Luke Pearce had been inconsistent in policing the breakdown, changing interpretation of the breakdown from first to second half.

“You just want to go from week to week with a basic understanding of what is a competitive ruck,” said Jones.

“I felt the first two breakdowns were clear wins for us, and we got penalised.

“But then in the second half, it is not quite like that.

“Are you allowed to compete for the ball or not?

“I am just confused, it is difficult. I am just a coach, I don’t know what it is like for players.

“One minute you are told one thing and then something else happens.

“I just struggle a little bit with the consistency.”

Jones was also frustrated that Pearce used television match official (TMO) Andrew Small to rule on efforts from Dan George and Gavin Henson, which led to both being disallowed, the latter for crossing, but did not refer David Strettle’s try for Saracens.

“You make the point in a question form and I think it is quite plain to see,” said Jones.

“I am just bewildered why that wasn’t referred to Mr Small upstairs.

“Coaches, players, anybody involved in rugby are not perfect. We all make mistakes.

“All people ask for is consistency. I just felt that was perhaps amiss on that occasion.”

Jones, however, accepted that Saracens were deserving winners.

“It is a tough game to come Saracens,” said Jones. “We all realise they are the form side at the moment.

“They deserve to be where they are on top of the tree.

“For us to come here and to get something from the game, we needed to be well in top of our game, which we perhaps weren’t.

“You need things to come your way and we didn’t get the breaks.”

Jones added: “We have got a week off and then a couple of weeks to prepare for Gloucester and Bath away from home.

“What is important for London Welsh now is that we role our sleeves up, work hard and play with a bit of adventure.”