Only if you completely misunderstand the meaning of the expression 'no use crying over spilt milk.'

In the end, it's the Widnes players who will suffer the most and we've already witnessed them making public complaints then quickly retracting them, no doubt after a massive bollocking from Mr O'Connor.

For me, if the plastic pitch continues to cause these types of abrasion injuries in the warmer weather, then it has no future as a playing surface; it will go back to being a training surface and we'll play on grass again, like we have for the past 100 years or so. In that circumstance, I'm sure that the groundsmen from WTW and Cas could offer some advice to those clubs less able to maintain a decent pitch, to ensure that everyone is up to our already high standards.

Given the RFL's approach to 'news,' I expect they'll do a press release next week suggesting that Widnes players have got the smoothest and most effectively exfoliated skin in SL, demonstrating that the i-pitch is a complete success.

Both those matches were played at the LSV stadium, undersoil heating

This isn't about being able to maintain a decent pitch. The Widnes groundsmen won awards over the years and our grass always looked in good shape.

The Widnes ipitch has had 3 games and a training session on it in 3 days. It doesn't matter how good your groundsmen are, a grass pitch could not withstand that. The ipitch provides a regular income that could prove to be a life saver for many clubs, and help keep them solvent.

There are certainly question marks over it, but I think it is worth giving it a season or so to prove itself before dismissing it of of hand. [i'We've played on grass for 100 years'[/i isn't really an argument, is it?

Starbug, how on earth can you feck up the quote box so often? You've been doing this for years now. What on Earth are you doing?

My ar5e.

When you click the quote button leave the contents of the quote alone. Just leave it and start typing below it. Stop fannying around with the brackets and the stuff inside the brackets.

Like this?

All I was doing was leaving the relevant bit in the quote, posting on this thing means you cant ' highlight ' parts you are answering

Maybe so, however they have been training on it for weeks and had 2 (less intense obviously) hit outs against the 20's on it without complaints. Few players in discussions with others said it was the worst it's felt and that Cullen had told Paul Johnson (retired one) that it wasn't all that far off frozen. Though for some reason conditions still not being taken into account by some even though the game the next day proved grass could be much worse effected.



You seem to be missing the main idea of the pitch? Training, extra revenue from other games / etc. I get the feeling your club is one of many keeping a close eye on it as should you get a 'community stadium' that you maybe after a multi use surface would be absolutely ideal.

I think if we are being 100% honest if it turned out the only issues were that at -5 and lower temperatures a few players got knee grazes i'd say the pitch would be a roaring success.

Whether that will be the case when conditions change, we shall see.

No, I'm not missing that at all; but if it proves to be unfit for purpose, then any plans to that effect shouldn't come to fruition.



We shall.

How the criticism of the pitch has continued beyond the picture of Matty Ashurt's knees is unbelievable. Two games played in very similar weather conditions.
Hopefully more will become clear following the home game against Salford in two weeks time which should be played in better conditions. As has been said, this is a season long experiment.

Couldn't help but laugh out loud at the poster that claimed rock hard pitches only happen in the snow though. Terrific that.

Woolston Rovers went to Leigh East on saturday after the referee declared the 3G pitch there playable for the game. Fortunately I was still out injured so didn't have to endure the pain that others suffered 5.109375:5