Official West Hartlepool RFC

Looks like Stags and Bucks still on.

It's interesting that we haven't had the harsh winters of years ago since the League Structure began. There has quite rightly been pressure to increase the size of leagues to allow clubs to play as much competitive rugby as possible. The return of harsh winters would create a problem....there again, haven't we got global warming?

I'll probably be pilloried for saying this and trying to start a serious rugby debate but I think teams are more apt to cry a game off these days in weather conditions where a game might have been played 10 or even 5 years ago.

OK rock hard, slippy or waterlogged ground to the point of being dangerous there is a very good reason not to play but in some cases in the last few weeks games were called off across the country because there was snow on the pitch, no ice or hard ground underneath just snow on the playing surface.

Surely in these conditions you just sweep the lines off get out a nice dayglo rugby ball and play the game?

Occasionally this season games have been called off because the ground is a little hard, but if the same games were to be played in Late August, September or April the ground would have been equally hard to play on.

Given that the decision to play or not rests on mutual agreement between team captains you would have thought relatively few games would be cancelled?

However in the instance of games being called off early I wonder how many team captains or even coaches are consulted and whether such decisions are being taken at a committee level?

Perhaps this warrants its own thread?

A frozen pitch is different to a summer hard pitch. Other than snow on the pitch teams have to travel considerable distances especially in higher leagues. There is an increased chance of crashes and or delays so preperation is hampered. Most weather forecasters recommend not to travel unless you really need to. I wouldn't want to travel somewhere in bad snow, concentrating hard in bad conditions. A 2 hr journey may turn into a 4 hr journey. Then you get there a 2pm for a 2.15 kick off. Best to leave it to the next available weekend. People complain that there are two many free weekends well now is the chance to use them.

What time exactly was this called off? There were a few of us went through to Darlington only to find the place deserted. An earlier warning on here would have saved us the journey.

For the record the Darlington pitch was pretty good apart from one big patch which still had frost in it. I've seen worse pitches played on specially as it was still thawing but never mind.

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Post Edited (15-02-09 11:25)

Sorry WPA our normal lines of communication were down because we had some stalwarts down in Cardiff. I put it on here as soon as I found out.

Told yesterday it was called off at 10.30. Can we try to make sure it doesn't happen again. Thanks.

Yes come on DP!!!! Sort it out, you can't upset the Sunday crowd! :oD:oD

The difference between winter hard pitch and summer hard pitch is litigation problems.....if a player is injured in a frozen pitch there is more chance of litigation as the weather conditions will also be brought into consideration. For example, in winter the pitches are more slippy and such can result in players falling awkwardly, whereas in the summer that possibilty greatly reduces.

On top of this, the actual temperature can affect the players. We have been advised on several occasions from assessors etc to watch the affects the temperature have on the players. For example (and not trying to create a debate about backs and forwards) we are asked to check that early sign of hyperthermia is not setting on those players who are not majorly involved in play, such as wings and fullbacks. Certainly one game last year I was asked by the assessor to bear this in mind as temperatures were dropping to just above freezing point.

so as in the case of frozen pitches. how could they be the same as spring/summer pitches. as in the last few weeks already disturbed pitches have had unusually high levels of water standing on them mixed with training and then, the seemingly endless freeze on a night surely these now frozen lumps and bumps are far more dangerous even on the slower moving front rows than the predominantly smooth and well covered later spring pitches??

I have had three games called off this winter - none because of the snow. One due to flooding after the snow, second and third game due to the pitch being solid.

With regards your comment further up, I have never been asked to make a decision on the state of a pitch.....it is always up to the clubs/captains until the game start.

Some times I agree games appear to be called off too quick. But if a team is travelling 2 - 3 hours to a game to get to the club to find the game is cancelled, i think it is wise to set expectations early. That goes the same for the refs. Most of us are now travelling big distances to games and are required to be at venues around 1.5 to 2 hours before KO and drop off at least 2 other refs on the way. So in many cases we are setting of at 9am for a 2.15pm KO.

FRLE

Why can't you just let the whole calling off games thing lie?

You have made your point that you don't always agree with it (repeatedly) now just accept that others have their opinion which may differ to yours especially when it involves games which do not affect you.

If it means that much to you then why not create your own thread about it on the rovers site where you can rattle on about it to your heart's content.