So the pitch passed an inspection yesterday even though it was covered in snow?

The mind boggles!

That's pretty poor on Hunslet's part.

Anyway there's a few of us off back to spoons if anyone fancies a rant.

I didnt go, so I dont know what the pitch was like. But if it was still covered in snow that had frozen then the referee has to consider the players safety.

If theres anyone to blame it sounds like Hunslet. Remember when they had a game called off due to no doctor afew years ago.

The ref should have been at that game well before kick off so that he could inspect the pitch and make a decision well before people set off to the game.

If there is any shadow of a doubt that a game could be postponed he should be there early.

Do fans not matter anymore.

At this time of year I could have visited family, instead I go out to follow my team and get treat with absolute contempt.

Speaking to a Hunslet official the referee declared the pitch playable at 12.30 hour and a half before kick off but it was the groundsman who works for the council who told the ref to call the game off at 20 past reckoned the pitch was icy underneath the snow imo opinion thats a pretty poor excuse because it was not freezing last night

I know what you mean. I think they normally get there 2 hours before the game, so he should have made a decision soon after he arrived & i also wonder if they think about the fans. The Cas game yesterday was ment to ko at 12pm but it was put back for a 2pm start to allow for a pitch inspection. It was given the ok, but then anounced it was ko at 1pm because the ref wanted to.

Sounds like he didn't want his nice green grass messing up.

I hope he's proud of the fact that people have wasted money on a trip over to Leeds because of his decision.

Not to mention the few grand your club will have missed out on.

and the beer was off!! Had to make do with bottles didn't we stealth!!

Referees decision should be final.

If the referee couldn't see ice under the snow, but the groundsman could, you want to be thankful the game didnt go ahead.

What else would he have missed?

it's fair point jim is that, but it's a bugger when you've drove there when as stealth said we couldve been doing something else with our day, I guess at least nobody got hurt.

A bit of a disaster really. Wasn't it?

You've got to ask why did the groundsman miss it on the inspection yesterday or the one this morning though?

It can't of frozen last night, it wasn't cold enough.

Just a tad!

Pretty hacked off





















.. while I can see that the safety of the players is paramount...but calling the game 3/4 hour before kick off really needs to be looked at.....





Hunslet told us the game was on after a pitch inspection yesterday ...today was warmer than yesterday ..so what happened ??

As like many on here who get limited time off work ...a day wasted when I could have been down the other end of the country spending precious time with friends and family..

NOT IMPRESSED AT ALL !

( though good afternoon with fellow board memebers in W.Spoons in a similar situation - Cheers Guys !)

If it was the groundsman called it off, then I must say we have similar problems with ours at the moment. Not the 1st team, but he dosent appear to like anything involving Cougar Cubs U18's games. wouldnt even let my u9's play there last good friday.

According to Barry who I spoke to it was the match referee that called it off even though both coaches wanted the game to go on. I rang Hunslet at 11.30 who said the game was on my query is why was the match referee not there before 1.20 when the inspection was done.

The pitch was inspected TWICE, once on Saturday, when the the home club were told to clear the snow then the game could go ahead. Hence the call for fans to come down to clear the snow. Nobody turned up. 2nd inspection on Sunday showed that the home side had not done what they said they would do ie clear the snow. So game off.
The RFL ref(s) did their jobs, let down by the home club.
A bit like the Cubs 18's trying to play at cougar park, those of you who watch the Cubs will know what I mean

If the decision was made by the groundsman - he may well have been protecting his pitch. We have the same problem when a 'surface thaw' occurs. After deep penetrating frost, the top thaws over underlying frozen ground. In this instance, play from either football, rugby or even golfers can cause the roots to break at the point of thaw/frost. this can kill the turf and cause the turf to slide over the frozen subsurface.

Regardless of the damage to the pitch, if the turf moves with rugby players relying on firm footing, all kind of injuries could happen.

I dare say he was trying to allow the thaw to continue to a safe depth?

Hope that wasn't too boring for you all - i will be faced with the same problem with my greens..

It's only like playing on a really boggy pitch like in the old winter rugby days isn't it.

Maybe I'm old school but when I was a kid we used to play full tackle rugby on the tennis courts at Swire Smith's when it snowed and it was brilliant.

As far as I'm concerned unless the pitch is frozen solid or under 3 foot of water it's playable.

As for people getting injured, no one wants to see it happen but aren't they part of the game in a full contact sport?

No one was asked to clear the ground of snow not any Hunslet fans anyway

To be fair who would have spent their boxing day shoveling snow anyway?

In my opinion they should have asked people to come out yesterday morning to do it.

Let those who helped in to the game for nowt, and rope a few players and coaches in for a bit of PR.

It's worked at a few Football grounds recently.

The below was posted on Hawks website before the match and also on Rugby League Fans Forums
by Spatacus

After a pitch inspection at 11.30am this morning (26th) tomorrows game against Keighley is ON.
Volunteers with shovels for snow clearing are needed, and should report to the ground at 11.0am.

This post has been edited by SPARTACUS: Dec 26 2009, 01:35 PM

FANS DID NOT CLEAR THE PITCH.
THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE GOT THE MESSAGE BUT THE REQUEST WAS SENT OUT.

BASIC ERROR.

Sorry Hunslet I cant beleive you would leave the snow clearing till so late, and when there was no one there not abandon the match straight away!!!!

It looks like Hunslet are not happy about it either.

Read the last [url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/rugby-league/cummins-in-frame-for-england-job-1852134.htmlparagraph.[/url

So it was the groundsman then?!

How's about them reimbursing the likes of Harry-al-Hill's petrol money as well.