All I have heard with regards water on the pitch is that (like other surfaces) giving it a good watering before a game will make it better maybe lesson impact a bit etc. The pitch obviously couldn't be watered fully last week as that, then would have led to a freeze.

So if you water it to lesson impact and it wasnt because of the temp it was left hard ? Have i got that wright.

Unless we get them at their place in the cup I wouldn't work about it.

We will see what other clubs feel about it in the fullness of time.

If there are any problems then Widnes will need a few more players

Quote: kellys eye "Correct me if iam wrong but if this pitch holds water like i have heard and the water freezes .How is it an all weather pitch'" here's the foundations, as it says its then topped with sand so if when its wet it must hold moisture that would freeze below the the plastic grass. this may of contribute to the nasty scrapes www.trustinwidnes.com/forum/inde ... 916.0.html can't wait for the Bulls to go grazing on it

Quote: kellys eye "Correct me if iam wrong but if this pitch holds water like i have heard and the water freezes .How is it an all weather pitch'" here's the foundations, as it says its then topped with sand so if when its wet it must hold moisture that would freeze below the the plastic grass. this may of contribute to the nasty scrapes www.trustinwidnes.com/forum/inde ... 916.0.html can't wait for the Bulls to go grazing on it

Would you throw added water out at -7?
As I say it's an aide not a necessity, same as with grass pitches.

i think the above should read "wakefield experienced it, and decided not to complain as no-one would listen to them anyway"

for the record, there are players at other clubs, including the ones who played on saturday night who are, shall we say "apprehensive" about the new surface. there have been many questions to our players.

this could be a big advantage to widnes now, as the players could become "scared" (or scar-ed) of the new surface

quite a good write up regarding the pitch in George Riley's blog on the BBC website www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/georgeriley/ ... _egos.html

quite a good write up regarding the pitch in George Riley's blog on the BBC website www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/georgeriley/ ... _egos.html

That blog contains a bit more information about the extent of the damage

So Mathers injuries have become infected, impacting on his training for the following week and putting his match fitness into doubt.



And the whole team have had this weeks' training disrupted, because of the injuries they sustained.

For Widnes' sake, I hope it was just the cold weather; if this happens to every team that plays on the i-pitch, it could prove to be a very costly error of judgement by O'Connor and the RFL.

Still at least O'Connor was dissuaded from having an orange pitch, although the current colour may have a reddish hue by the end of the season.

Good article that by George Riley covers issues and gets various responses. Though arranging swimming the day after a night game is always at risk of a bit if clarett I'd say!

Its the norm for squads to have a swimming session the day after games, its all part of the recovery process, I'd imagine every team has the pool booked for the day after game day.

In the days of winter rugby and no Sky TV, this game would probably have been called off. If the ground temperature is -6°, you're going to get hurt, no matter what surface you play on.

If players keep getting cut up when the temperatures are above freezing, I'd say you have a serious issue with the pitch. Until then, it's an open verdict. The game's hard enough without subjecting players to the risk of serious injury in unsuitable playing conditions, just to line the pockets of the TV paymasters and satisfy the desires of the spectators.

correct

players safety isn't paramount