Esher and London Welsh are locked in a bitter bust-up ahead of Saturday’s scheduled Valentine’s Day derby at Molesey Road.

The National One showdown is in doubt because Welsh have rearranged an EDF Trophy game against Cambridge for the same day.

Esher and Cambridge have lodged official complaints with the RFU after Welsh called off Sunday’s original fifth-round EDF tie with Cambridge at 2pm last Friday – a full two days before the match.

Just two hours later, international referee Wayne Barnes declared the pitch at Old Deer Park playable and the England women’s international against Italy went ahead as scheduled on Saturday.

Esher officials claim Welsh are desperate to have a home game this Saturday to enjoy a cash bonanza at the clubhouse – with Wales taking on England in the televised Six Nations game at 5.30pm.

Esher had refused a request from Welsh to swap their fixtures at the start of the season.

The row increases the bitterness between the rivals, with Esher also accusing the Exiles of leading a successful campaign to reduce National One from 16 to 12 clubs.

Esher chairman Jamie Robinson said: “It seems London Welsh made a premature decision to call the Cambridge game off and that they had a vested interest in doing so.

“We don’t understand how they can call a game off two days before – yet an international referee says the pitch is playable the same day.

“We have protested to the RFU, as have Cambridge, so now we must await their decision.

“The decision has a huge knock-on effect to us. It is our only home game in February and we have spent a lot of time and money promoting and organising things for the Valentine’s Day game.”

One Esher official, who did not want to be named, raged: “What London Welsh have done stinks.

“We all know they were desperate to have a home game on the Saturday and saw their chance to have one by calling the Cambridge game off.

“But how can they be allowed to break the rules without a pitch inspection by a referee?

“Then two hours later one of the world’s top referees says the pitch is playable.

“Esher were thrown out of the EDF Trophy for fielding an ineligible player in a game when we were 33-0 ahead.

“Now London Welsh have broken the rules, let’s see what punishment the RFU deem suitable for them.”

London Welsh chief executive Officer Peter Thomas at first refused to comment on the postponement of the Cambridge game.

But he then claimed: “The decision to call the game off was done in conjunction with Cambridge.

However, Cambridge have since found out that no referee was called in, contravening RFU rules, and have accused Welsh of deceiving them.

“We are protesting to the RFU because they haven’t complied with the ruling on cancellation of games,” he said.

“Peter Thomas said their pitches were unplayable and we assumed they had had a referee to inspect it.

“Now I hear a referee said the pitches were playable.”