Because it's not up to the RFL to decide whether a pitch is playable or not, it's up to the match officials - usually in consultation with both clubs?

Don't the match officials come under the jurisdiction of the RFL?

To be honest, there's no real harm done though, this is a tough sport and i'm sure the players can cope with scraped knees for a few games while the spring gets here!

So what? The book stops with the match officials. If they give the go-ahead, how is it anyone at Red Hall's fault?

Buck.

[urlhttps://twitter.com/#!/matty_ash_89/media/slideshow?url=pic.twitter.com%2FuTZVGGgZ[/url

I don't know if this has already been posted. I can't be bothered looking back through the thread, but looking at Matty Ashursts knees maybe the game at Salford should have been called off!!!

Only been mentioned about 10 times



I didn't know about Dennis Betts telling Richie Mathers to "man up" though after his Twitter pic



And Chev Walker has also tweeted a pic of his knees after playing at the KC the other week in Radford's testimonial. I'm pretty sure the pitch wasn't even frozen that weekend.

Maybe he should tell Ben Cross to "man up" after is teddy throwing and abuse at the Sky camera.

so to sum up 17 pages

'the ipitch is rubbish and causes injury'
'no it doesnt'
'yes it does'
'no it doesnt'
'yes it does'
'no it doesnt'
'yes it does'
'no it doesnt'
'yes it does'
'no it doesnt'
'yes it does'
'no it doesnt'
'yes it does'

There must have been the odd mention of Mathers in there too.

It's been a good few days for knee fetishists, that's foreshore.

No, I'd say it's more a:

'The iPitch causes injuries.'
'We have no idea yet.'
'But it does.'
'But we have no idea yet.'
'Yes we do.'
'No we don't.'

The only discussion has been whether you can judge the effectiveness of a new playing surface after one game in extreme weather conditions. Some people think you can. Others aren't that stupid.

[urlhttp://viewtopic.php?f=15&t=518207&start=10[/url

www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/georgeriley/ ... _egos.html

www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/georgeriley/ ... _egos.html

All I said was that I hadn't heard complaints from players involved in the Halifax/Crusaders game,I never claimed complaints didn't exist.I don't know if any of the anonymous posters in your link are players.

Even if the pitch has slight detrinmental effects via grazing, so long as this can be avoided by using minimal protection for knees and elbows, this has to be the way forward. The economic benefits to the club are potentially huge, and it makes ground-sharing a much more viable proposition - look at the mess Headingley's pitch was on Friday after a winter of RU.

Criticism of Mathers seems a bit unfair. He obviously felt strongly that something should be said, but not via some official complaint. In the BBC interview he's basically said what the more rational amongst us are saying - give the pitch a chance, and lets hope the extreme effects were down to ice. IMO Widnes are being a bit defensive when they needn't - lets all just wait and see.

Is there a case for these? www.footballamerica.com/catalog/ ... SEQ_1262|0

Is there a case for these? www.footballamerica.com/catalog/ ... SEQ_1262|0

Quote ="Steve Fox"Is there a case for these? www.footballamerica.com/catalog/ ... SEQ_1262|0'" The padding on them is on the thighs. I don't even think that would be necessary. Skins on the legs would be more than enough (that's essentially all they have on those padded shorts anyway). I think if this weekend has shown us anything, it's that playing rugby in minus-degrees will ruin the skin on your knees. We shouldn't be talking about whether it's safe to play on the iPitch, but whether it's safe to play in extremely cold conditions. Should there be a call for players to HAVE to wear skins in temperatures like this? If you give players "the choice" they usually take the dumb "pride" option. Sometimes you need to make the decision to look after those that can't look after themselves.

Quote ="Steve Fox"Is there a case for these? www.footballamerica.com/catalog/ ... SEQ_1262|0'" The padding on them is on the thighs. I don't even think that would be necessary. Skins on the legs would be more than enough (that's essentially all they have on those padded shorts anyway). I think if this weekend has shown us anything, it's that playing rugby in minus-degrees will ruin the skin on your knees. We shouldn't be talking about whether it's safe to play on the iPitch, but whether it's safe to play in extremely cold conditions. Should there be a call for players to HAVE to wear skins in temperatures like this? If you give players "the choice" they usually take the dumb "pride" option. Sometimes you need to make the decision to look after those that can't look after themselves.

I think it is imperative that Widnes defend their new £0.5m pitch that has received unjustified criticism after one game on it in freezing conditions where players from other clubs playing on different surfaces received similar injuries!

For once Stevo hit the nail on the head with this one. In Australia they cope with far worse pitches during the start of the year. A bit of Vaseline does it.

Unless the use of petroleum based lubricants has a detrimental effect on the polymer surface

Players will complain that they are slipping on it

For those moaning about the iPitch, check out the conditions these kids have to play in in Jamaica: www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-ME5bXs ... re=related

For those moaning about the iPitch, check out the conditions these kids have to play in in Jamaica: www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-ME5bXs ... re=related

Quote ="headhunter"For those moaning about the iPitch, check out the conditions these kids have to play in in Jamaica: www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-ME5bXs ... re=related'" Completely irrelevant and stupid point as usual. Congratulations on being consistent.

Quote ="headhunter"For those moaning about the iPitch, check out the conditions these kids have to play in in Jamaica: www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-ME5bXs ... re=related'" Completely irrelevant and stupid point as usual. Congratulations on being consistent.

they all seem to have 7 pads, or at least capacity for 7 pads; 'tail', 2 x hips, 2 x thighs & 2 x knees.