I WAS delighted to hear the Rugby Football Union have decided to apologise for the referee's performance against Birmingham & Solihull.

It really was unacceptable and it's nice to know that English rugby's governing body are not too proud to admit they were wrong. We totted up the penalties during the game and 40 was quite incredible. Quite out of character for us at Sixways.

The French exchange referee was out of his depth in the National One game and it is just a good job that the game, ultimately, didn't mean anything. In the end, Rotherham won their match at Orrell and clinched the title so our result against the Bees was irrelevant.

The point is, though, that the game could very well have meant something and still could if you take into account there is an inquiry into Rotherham's off-the-field activities which could lead to docked points. We've lost a point in that match with Birmingham & Solihull and that could be vital when all is said and done.

The other difficult part to swallow is that our crowd paid good money to see the team at Sixways for the final time this season. They've been treated to a good standard of rugby and 1,895 supporters is still a good attendance considering what had gone on a week earlier against Rotherham. They didn't deserve to be short-changed but I think the referee actually cost them a lot of enjoyment.

Instead, they were frustrated like the rest of us and I can fully understand having watched the game from the stands myself. It was probably a good job though. I might have thought up some French words to say to him and got myself sent off!

Our game is very much building up momentum and using our backs to their full potential. They were just not allowed to on Saturday and that suited the visitors down to the ground. They came to be very negative and the ref actually helped them in that respect because he slowed the game down even more.

I never like to criticise referees because I genuinely feel they have a hard job but he really didn't do himself any favours. The question that has be asked though, is why was he there in the first place?

I think it's very good that the RFU have come out and said sorry but really, the guy shouldn't be put in that position in the first place. They need to screen these refs better before they are nominated.

In the end, we've won the game 17-6 but there wasn't much to celebrate afterwards. Rotherham won the title and the place was very down. I don't really think anyone has got the April 12 defeat out of their system yet.

Rugby Lions, on Saturday, presents the guys with a great opportunity to go out with a bang. It might well be the final game for a number of Worcester players so it is a great chance to reinforce the style and panache which has been so apparent at Sixways this season. It would be, in the wake of Saturday's dour offering, a great way to put some smiles back on Worcester supporters' faces.