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N2E Pitch Conditions
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FEZ ANT PLUCKER View Drop Down
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    Posted: 22 Aug 2022 at 14:43
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.  
 
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"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 LOL
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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.
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Points: 3322 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rabbie Burns Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Aug 2022 at 18:28
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
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The Pitch at Rectory Field was great when I was with the Club in 76. Or perhaps we were not so picky back then.Wink
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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......................................
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Points: 4150 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Halliford Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Aug 2022 at 22:45
Originally posted by Even Older Hooker Even Older Hooker wrote:

The Pitch at Rectory Field was great when I was with the Club in 76. Or perhaps we were not so picky back then.Wink

I played two games at Worthing over the Bank Holiday weekend in 1976 on pitches that had cracks all over them from the drought!


Edited by Halliford - 22 Aug 2022 at 22:46
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Points: 7355 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote islander Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post 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)...
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tigerburnie View Drop Down
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Points: 3641 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tigerburnie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Aug 2022 at 09:30
Hmmmmm not sure we could have homes/hospitals with no water and lush green sports grounds though.
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Points: 7355 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote islander Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Aug 2022 at 10:06
Originally posted by tigerburnie tigerburnie wrote:

Hmmmmm not sure we could have homes/hospitals with no water and lush green sports grounds though.

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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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.
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Originally posted by Rabbie Burns Rabbie Burns wrote:

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
.  
Just as a matter of interest, is it free admission for Thursdays game ?
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Rabbie Burns View Drop Down
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Points: 3322 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rabbie Burns Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Aug 2022 at 12:06
Yes and Friday Ranger, we never charge for pre season
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