Re: Workington v Keighley : Sun Apr 14, 2013 4:24 pm  

In fairness to the match commissioner it was announced just after 9.00am that the match was off. Having said that, it shouldn't have been off. We have had a nice afternoon weatherwise with a good drying wind as well and this was match postponed that should have been played. Unfortunately, we have to get on with it and it looks like Tuesday evening but it's time someone was telling the fans if that is so.

Re: Workington v Keighley : Sun Apr 14, 2013 4:30 pm  

I think i may have won this contest, 10 miles from ground before stopping to read text telliing me game was off.

Re: Workington v Keighley : Sun Apr 14, 2013 4:35 pm  

We turned around and went to watch Halifax v Leigh.

Leigh were awful.

Re: Workington v Keighley : Sun Apr 14, 2013 4:40 pm  

That said I think if the pitch has become dried out and hard as a rock and the pitch has therefore not been able to absorb the rain or disperse the rain then a substantial proportion of the responsibility lies with Workington Town RLFC and the persons responsible for their pitch.

As they failed to notify Keighley prior to the setting off time I shall expect there shall be a compensation claim made. (Against who and what else this might include other than the coach we will have to wait and see.)

I also doubt as many away fans will be making the journey from Cougar Park on a week day night and probably a fewer number of home fans.

I doubt for one minute anybody at Worky thought or imagined this was for any type of advantage. It will not help them on the pitch and certainly not in money terms. However I imagine they may monitor the condition of there pitch and drainage, and watering a little more closely as a result of this.

As this time of year you need to water the pitch and spike it.

Many of the Worky Fans feel a little embarrassed by this.

Re: Workington v Keighley : Sun Apr 14, 2013 4:40 pm  

Surely both. clubs . should regard this fixture as sufficiently important to rearrange for a Sunday in May; even if it means one of those Rail Cup games being arranged for a midweek?

Re: Workington v Keighley : Sun Apr 14, 2013 4:58 pm  

Wondered why the tea hut was shut and I was stood on my own ......

Re: Workington v Keighley : Sun Apr 14, 2013 7:13 pm  

We just got past Kirby Lonsdale so decided to go to Kendal for the day instead

Re: Workington v Keighley : Sun Apr 14, 2013 7:55 pm  

During the close season some work was done on the pitch at Workington in readiness for the World Cup matches in October. Some new drains were laid in known areas of bad drainage and new turf laid on top. Since this work was completed there has been 6 weeks without any rain and we haven't had any snow of any significance to help the growth. Because of this the ground staff haven't been able to use machinery to spike or slit tine the pitch for fear of ripping it up, and the first rainfall we have had just lay on the top and couldn't get down to the new drains.

The match commissioner made a very hasty decision to call off the game, probably to avoid Keighley and you fans from travelling, but by 10 am the rain stopped and we have had a nice afternoon with a drying wind and although I never saw the pitch I would wager that it would have been perfect for a game of RL this afternoon. The players trained on it yesterday and said it was rock solid then, so with the rain from last night soaking in to the top 2 or 3 inches in the 5 hours of dry weather today it would have made it just about right.

It's not what anyone wanted and lessons will have been learned from this but clubs have no control over match commissioners decisions.

Re: Workington v Keighley : Sun Apr 14, 2013 8:20 pm  

Thank you for the update / explanation.

Do you think if the pitch had been watered during the period when it was dry, then it could have been spiked and this would not have occurred?

Yes I know hindsight is 20/20 but somebody with experience of keeping a pitch in good nick may be able to give an informed view.

At the end of the day, I would be equally annoyed if this had happened at home.

I do remember seeing JD a lot when he was at Cougar Park. He was a man who never rested and would frequently be seen also watering the pitch and looking after it. He knew how important it was to keep it playable.

Re: Workington v Keighley : Sun Apr 14, 2013 9:00 pm  

MICKEY1920, indeed hidsight is a very good thing but at this time of year we expect some rain, or melting snow, etc, but we had neither. It wouldn't have done any good to water and then get a deluge so it's devil and deep blue sea for the ground staff.