Tim Swift sent me a message to say that the game was called off by the groundsman and the stadium manager and he was going to ask them to make a statement as to why .( I don`t think Coun Swift knew the groundsman had already made a statement on social media the night before taking a swipe at the Giants )
Now I have no problem with the groundsman being consulted re` the state of the pitch myself it`s right and proper and if he thinks it should be cancelled fair enough . But the pitch was playable for a rugby match and I have seen us play on far worse .So if the game was cancelled to safeguard it for soccer as it would have made a mess of the pitch ...then why not say so ? Plus the opinion of a RFL referee and a member of our club should have been brought into the debate as it doesn`t sound right that he should be the one to say that the game gets called off. There doesn`t seem a solution to this as we will be faced with this again unfortunatly as they just cannot seem to have a pitch that is fit for purpose and they can`t blame us we havn`t set foot on it yet.
The wider debate about this episode to me is as to whether the council is really serious about making the Shay a community stadium we`ll have to see.

having seen the photos of the pitch it was not wise to go ahead with the game. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater

having seen the photos of the pitch it was not wise to go ahead with the game. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater

Totally the correct decision and these pectures were taken before saturday evenings 4 hour deluge.Anyone questioning the professionalism of the groudsmen Ozzy/Handsey really hasn't a clue..

www.dailystar.co.uk/rugby-league ... ll-flooded Apparently Huddersfield Giants are preparing a statement. It suggests that Rhinos like water and after all six feet under water only makes the ground damp and perfectly playable.

www.dailystar.co.uk/rugby-league ... ll-flooded Apparently Huddersfield Giants are preparing a statement. It suggests that Rhinos like water and after all six feet under water only makes the ground damp and perfectly playable.

I thought it was moist because of the excitement for the new season!

Pitch looks shagged before we have even stepped foot on it. On the other hand the picture with the foot on it suggests it is probably quite solid under foot although the lack of grass on it is a bit of a concern, maybe letting it grow a bit might do it some good and also help with the drainage.

Ive really only a couple of more questions but if the groundsmen are so sure that the pitch is not playable why not just let normal procedure take place and let it get inspected? Was that because they knew the pitch would be deemed playable by an independent referee and they couldnt take that chance?

Also Im no gardener but isnt there covers down at the Shay? What damage would be caused by putting them on when heavy rain is forecast and how does that compare to letting the pitch take the rain, are the covers even an option?

Good questions. Summats not right.

From what I can see I think they need to go and ask the local cops if they've impounded some strong lights from people growing other types of grass which could be then used for the Shay pitch.

The light theory has been brought up before, and ultimately would be of huge benefit, Since the East Stand was finished the drainage and grass have been recurring problems. if only we could work who is going buy them and own them. It goes on the list along with upgrading the Skircoat, putting more toilets in the North Stand, finding something and someone for the corner of the East Stand, getting 'a' scoreboard (singular). Sometimes I guess we just have to be greatful things are worse at other clubs and relatively speaking we're in good shape.
I'm disappointed for Fax, really am, especially when you think of all the work that's gone in to making the fixture possible, on and off field, but maybe the Shaymens survival in the national league is ultimately a bigger concern than a friendly against an academy side on a mud bath with a minimum of 20 interchanges per team.
I think we need to start asking why is the pitch still such a mess, and what do the grounds men need to keep it in better nick. I appreciate and understand Huddersfield may be annoyed, but they were hardly bringing the big guns out. I wouldn't think it's derailed their annual SL false dawn, we will still hear Eddie and Stevo commenting that they fell short of Old Trafford again.

The pitch does look pretty bad but we all know why with the amount of rain that's dropped since November.
If it had been a league game then I think it would have been played.
If so this is saying that friendlies are not worth ruining the pitch for and sets a precedent.
Maybe the answer then is not to arrange any pre season friendlies at the Shay and play them all away.
As annoying as this is it's better than having them cancelled due to one form of bad weather or another which during winter is more than likely.

Quote ="swifty62"having seen the photos of the pitch it was not wise to go ahead with the game. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater'" Looking at those photos yes the pitch was in a bad state and yes it was not playable then but that was Saturday morning at 11am - 28 hours before the game and whilst the weather forecast used looked bad it was not very accurate and a more reliable one is the Met Office. The issue is still that the game was called off too early and a second opinion surely should have been given on the day?

Quote ="swifty62"having seen the photos of the pitch it was not wise to go ahead with the game. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater'" Looking at those photos yes the pitch was in a bad state and yes it was not playable then but that was Saturday morning at 11am - 28 hours before the game and whilst the weather forecast used looked bad it was not very accurate and a more reliable one is the Met Office. The issue is still that the game was called off too early and a second opinion surely should have been given on the day?

Quote ="swifty62"having seen the photos of the pitch it was not wise to go ahead with the game. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater'" Looking at those photos yes the pitch was in a bad state and yes it was not playable then but that was Saturday morning at 11am - 28 hours before the game and whilst the weather forecast used looked bad it was not very accurate and a more reliable one is the Met Office. The issue is still that the game was called off too early and a second opinion surely should have been given on the day?

Quote ="swifty62"having seen the photos of the pitch it was not wise to go ahead with the game. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater'" Looking at those photos yes the pitch was in a bad state and yes it was not playable then but that was Saturday morning at 11am - 28 hours before the game and whilst the weather forecast used looked bad it was not very accurate and a more reliable one is the Met Office. The issue is still that the game was called off too early and a second opinion surely should have been given on the day?

looks twice as bad above.

Can anyone ever recall a game of any sort being called off by a grounds person?
Sets a dangerous precident, in my humble opinion.

I must admit John, after seeing the pics of the Shay online,there was no way you could have played on that pitch.

Possibly so Ian,I wouldn't argue with that,but it is not and never has been the place of a grounds person with a vested interest to call off a match.
A local referee could have been consulted together with representatives of the clubs.
As I say in my humble opinion it sets a dangerous precident.

Was the kna Charlie?

Is it warm on your planet Terry?

Tha con as Wat tha wants Pelly owd chuffer I allers ses what I think even wen folk dun agree,me am warm enuff,art goin Widnes?Coz I am.

There are no sub-titles with this message ,can one of you Yorkies translate this for us Lankies please,cmon Halifaxjohn,or Hudd-Shay.

Very difficult Ian, I think our mate Terry is suffering from what doctors have recently called PDBS, (post David Bowie Syndrome) and is quoting from songs such as Life on Mars or some similar tosh.
I could be wrong, perhaps it's just too many Ziggy Stardust pills.

Will do Ian, it's quite simple.......Sh!te.

Brilliant.

I guess given the pitch now stands covered maybe that answers that question.

I'm sure oz has said in past that covering the pitch when heavy rainfall is expected is a no-no.The covers are used for frost
but they have only usefull to -2.