Hi,

Can anyone link me to some photos of your iPitch?

You can see it later today

far too long to wait!

Doesnt seem to be popular with the players, or their skin lol

You can see a very NFL type of footwear and strip being used on pitches like this. A couple of times the players seemed to have problem turning and stopping, but I'm sure you could get away with similar footwear that's worn in the States on their artificial pitches and for now they could easily wear lightweight base wear to stop the grazing.
But must say it did provide an high tempo game which will probably suit Widnes's opponents more until they get themselves upto speed with the pace of SL. Last year was exactly the same for us getting pinged for penalty's because most of the players we had were from 2nd grade.
If you saw the pitch at headingley tonight against yours , then for the future of the game theirs no contest.

Made for a great open game, although a lot of players with grazes and some with blood running from their knees.

I've always wanted to ask you this Slugger. What is your sig all about?

I've played on pitches years ago where the temperature has been borderline freezing and always come away with cuts and grazes from the pitch. Whether its an ipitch or not it won't be immune from the elements due to water and the ground freezing underneath. I think the players may have a different opinion of it come summer time though.

Sorry but disagree with you here its not the grazes its the burns from the synthetic material. I honestly thought the surface looked superb but I have reservations about it being fit for purpose for a sport like RL, football however could cope I think

I agree, you could see the grazes/burns on the players elbows and knees caused from the synthetic pitch and IMO is a problem.

I bet my like every player will now be wearing skins under their shirt to prevent the graze/burns to the elbow.

The wildcats will be making complaints and I think it will be the first of many and IMO they have the to as they need to protect their players.

grazes can happen on grass as we well know and I for one use to prevent it on my thighs while playing football wearing the tight shorts that Lynford Cristie used to use in sprinting, they was lime green in colour and for weeks I had the taking out of me, it later dawned on ours to do the same
never again did I ever suffer grass burns on my hips/thighs but the knees and elbows are a different, to protect them they will end up looking like american football players

Don't envy the Widnes players having to play on this every other week and sometimes back to back especially the guys who do the most tackling their friction type burns will never have time to heal Rugby League is a hard enough game as we all know without these added problems

They can happen on grass but not like the grazes on the players arms and knees last night. Most players has blood running Down there leg or arm.

If that was grass last night, I doubt many players would have grazed arms and legs due to it being wet and slippy.

It was obvious that players were going to end up with burns from the pitch, I just wasn't expecting them to be so bad. They take ages to heal as well, so I don't envy the Widnes players having to play on that every week.

Got some mates who are Wigan fans. Winds them up, that's all.

We are more ancient, after all, but only by a few years. Loyalty is more subjective, but it takes more effort to follow Wakey! There are some Sundays when I wonder why I bother.

So the problem with the iPitch is that it cuts your knees and elbows. Players can wear warm skins in the winter, and cool skins in the summer. Problem pretty much solved. Simples. I just hope that for our lot, it doesn't turn out to be too hard a surface and take its toll on knees, hips and ankles!

It's going to look odd in summer with 26 players wearing multiple coloured skins and tights on the legs. I'm not fond of that idea.

Suppose it's a trial, not the best start for the Ipitch.

yeah i think the RFL need to sort that out, Cockayne Wearing pink skins, acouple wearing White, cant remember if any black were on show but I have seen plenty of the black ones last season. then we have different colour cycling short type pants as well. The sport will look like a knock about where everyone has brought their own kit. Needs nipping in the bud.

Thought the pitch was good, we will have to see with injurys over the season before we knowfor sure. Like someone says the skinz need looking at each club one colour should be easy. Will take Widnes a few games to get up to speed but great to see them back!

You are ok with the loyal bit(subjectivley) but unless I'm mistaken your ancient bit is out a year Wigan 1872

I see what the i stands for now.

Coyle's horrible injury this afternoon will no doubt bring more criticism of the pitch. Will be interested to note the comments coming from other SL players in the next few weeks.

Can't beat a bit 'o grass I say.

Hope the poor kid is ok, similar injury to Chev Walkers I have heard.

I presumed it was something along those lines. We were founded in 1872 though.............originally

That moment when you're made to look a bit foolish?

(above) Matty Ashurst's knees after playing on GRASS last night.
Similar conditions last night to the one before. The iPitch is now accepting grovelling apologies.

To be honest, it was going to happen that the very first injury or issue then players were going to automatically blame the iPitch and forget all other factors. If anything looking at the injuries, those sustained last night were quite a bit worse. The iPitch is very much still under review but it's worth waiting to ascertain all the facts before slagging off the as yet unknown.

Matty has just put two fried eggs with tommy sauce on his knees. You can see the yolk and the egg white clearly. Next up we'll have some nancy sticking a celery stick on each knee to summon the effect of bone sticking out.