N2E Pitch Conditions
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Category: League Rugby - www.leaguerugby.co.uk
Forum Name: National 2
Forum Description: Discuss the 42 clubs in the fourth level of the English game.
URL: http://www.leaguerugby.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=19285
Printed Date: 07 Jun 2025 at 00:14
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Topic: N2E Pitch Conditions
Posted By: FEZ ANT PLUCKER
Subject: N2E Pitch Conditions
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2022 at 14:43
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I have to congratulate my Club Dorking RFC on the condition of our first team pitch on Saturday for our pre-season match against Sutton & Epsom. With all the talk about the start of the season being delayed due to the hard ground conditions and danger to players, we have been lucky to have completed both pre-season fixtures. The first at Stourbridge RFC (4G) on 13th and latterly at home this last weekend. I was told that the club had invested £3000 on watering the 1st team pitch during the drought and that we have a metered system in place. The pitch was impeccable. Lush green manicured turf with a soft underlayer. I was also told that Sutton & Epsoms pitches are unplayable, and our two clubs have reached agreement that they will lease our 1st team pitch when Dorking are away, until conditions change. This seems to me to be a very sensible and forward thinking approach by both clubs in these uncertain and unpredictable times. I feel sure the RFU must have agreed the arrangement. As it seems 4G pitches have no issues, I was wondering how other clubs are coping as the season draws near. ------------- Fezantplucker |
Replies:
Posted By: Happy
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2022 at 15:54
"luckily the last week or so has made our pitch just about playable, but we are sorely disappointed to miss out on the "smug g*t" award that fez ant plucker has just won 
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Posted By: Website Watcher
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2022 at 16:23
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I wonder if the importance of watering a small area of grass for leisure
purposes while there is a country wide drought is something to crow about in
this manner, especially now Dorking are profiteering from another club who
didn't. I suspect a lot of clubs have considered the need to do the right thing
and have not seen the need for 'lush green manicured turf', although I am sure quite a few have had to take some measure to keep the pitches playable.
Here's hoping that pitch inspections in the coming weeks do find that we
have had enough rain to allow games to proceed. |
Posted By: Rabbie Burns
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2022 at 18:28
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As usual the pitch at Well Hall is immaculate and was widely praised by both teams last Friday when we played Richmond has had more work done and will be perfect for the visits of Sidcup (Thursday) 7:45 kick off and Esher (Friday) 7:45 kick off. It’s all about infrastructure and when we redeveloped before moving the games to here from Rectory field an excellent drainage and irrigation system was built in which helps immensely to keep the pitch in tip top condition ------------- So many Christians not enough Lions |
Posted By: Even Older Hooker
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2022 at 21:33
The Pitch at Rectory Field was great when I was with the Club in 76. Or perhaps we were not so picky back then. ------------- Another one against the head |
Posted By: tigerburnie
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2022 at 21:48
| I recall early season games being cancelled due to hard pitches in '76, but funnily enough we played on frozen solid ones in the winter...................................... |
Posted By: Halliford
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2022 at 22:45
I played two games at Worthing over the Bank Holiday weekend in 1976 on pitches that had cracks all over them from the drought!
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Even Older Hooker wrote:Posted By: islander
Date Posted: 23 Aug 2022 at 07:28
| There's a conversation to be had about what exemptions, if any, should be allowed for sports clubs in such a context, with rugby probably a huge part of this as there aren't many sports which risk being called off if the ground's too hard. If a 1st XV match provides recreation for 46ish players + officials + there are a few hundred watching, there are arguably some wellbeing/ mental health benefits involved, aren't there? As well as the financial issues for a host club. We heard quite a lot about this as we came out of the pandemic in terms of the importance of clubs surviving, getting people back to play safely as soon as possible etc, and I would have thought some of the same factors applied, especially with one scenario (drought) following on soon after another (Covid)... |
Posted By: tigerburnie
Date Posted: 23 Aug 2022 at 09:30
| Hmmmmm not sure we could have homes/hospitals with no water and lush green sports grounds though. |
Posted By: islander
Date Posted: 23 Aug 2022 at 10:06
I don't think anyone's suggesting that, are they? Aren't hosepipe bans a 'pre-emptive strike' aimed at conserving stocks so that the situation doesn't reach the stage where there'd be a risk of homes/hospitals without water?
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Posted By: Kentish Man
Date Posted: 23 Aug 2022 at 10:33
| We also do not have a national water supply system so saving in an area without restrictions does not help one with. I would have thought player safety should have been top of the agenda rather than visual appearances, but I applaud all clubs that get Rugby on and adhere to the restrictions on usage in their area. |
Posted By: WESTCOMBE RANGER
Date Posted: 23 Aug 2022 at 11:19
. Just as a matter of interest, is it free admission for Thursdays game ? ------------- The older I get, the better I was. |
Posted By: Rabbie Burns
Date Posted: 23 Aug 2022 at 12:06
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Yes and Friday Ranger, we never charge for pre season ------------- So many Christians not enough Lions |