Pitch Inspection

[Gemma]

I thought you wanted to keep the Munster boys occupied since they'd made the trip up?

[goodaine]

I thought you wanted to keep the Munster boys occupied since they'd made the trip up?

You know me ................. happy to help out rugby where I can

[Gemma]

Between the two of us, we'll have this match back on again. Or something.

[Cockatrice]

With regards to blaming it appears that some of our Muntser brethren are pointing the finger at UR for not using covers on the pitch. It appears that all 4 provinces were provided with same for just such an occasion and afterall the snow was forecast.

Didn't think it would go ahead today after seeing the photos on the news and having been out subjecting others to H&S issues for 6 hours today.

[Rooster]

By the sound of it it is not the pitch being the real problem CT but the grounds to an extent and also the surrounding access to the area which is not really UR's problem.
The pitch is not frozen so covers would make no difference and how the heck would you get them moved with the weight of snow and water ?

Can't see UR taking the matter of postponing the match lightly as a considerable cost will ensue.

[goodaine]

They were probably afraid I would slip and fall wrecking the other ankle and thought my demands would be more than the players (esp big Simon) could cope with - hence much safer for evryone concerned

[Rooster]

No doubt this is all Kimbles fault for not mobilising the URSC committee earlier in the day to clear the pitch, terrace, prom, area surrounding the stand, carpark, path to the bogs and then the surrounding streets and roads
Sham on you Kimmy

[Freddie Benson]

Given the appearances as seen on Mark Sidebottom's report one BBC Newsline at lunchtime, it was never realistically going to cleared - pitch or ground.
However, there was no sign of the contractors mentioned by UR this am that had been employed to help the situation.

Perhaps tok was back in Ballyholme at that stage.

[the original kimble]

If I had a shovel,
I'd shovel in the morning,
I'd shovel in the evening,
all over this land.

I'd holler out a warning,
I'd holler out danger,
I'd shovel that slush between Grumpy and Freddie
all over the wall.

tok

[atee]

back in the day when i was at durham uni, when it snowed before newcastle falcon's matches they used to appeal to supporters to come clear away the snow before matches, if you came then you got free entry to the match that day! we should have all gone and swept the city!!

[Gemma]

Now there's an idea!

[jamesie]

if you came then you got free entry to the match that day!

this mob would've only emptied the ballex out of each other if they we're given shovels...

am disappointed me... extended my stay over crimbo and new year for this match... hey ho. interesting if i'll get a refund as won't be here for re-match...

i'm actually bemused at the lack of action by the roads service... have been on north circular, antrim road, cavehill road and many of the raods off the castle today... not a gram of grit or salt in sight... scandalous!!! i heard on the radio earlier that they're having a pop at the met office for not warning them!!! WTF!?

[Freddie Benson]

hey ho. interesting if i'll get a refund as won't be here for re-match...

see the 'postponed' thread J

should get a refund once CR decide on the date to play the match

[goodaine]

Yes we ended up with wheels spinning and going nowhere at top of Waterloo ............. thought we would have at least been safe going that way

Think Gemma would quite happily have taken a snowplough & cleaned the streets round Ravers tonight just to see Hugo running round pitch in his shorts

[Cockatrice]

Rooster- I made mention of what some Munster fans had been asking with regards to the covers.

As for my other comment as I say having spent most of the day in East Belfast dealing with a H&S issue stemming from the overnight snow I was simply saying that I had doubts the game would go ahead. The streets around Ravenhill were up until the rain anyway very dangerous and with a potential drop in temperature getting into and out of the ground was always going to be difficult.

Any attempt to move snow from the terraces should have been started very early I know of one team of gritters that were working for several hours on a site considerably smaller than Ravenhill. One chance may have been to hope the expected rain came I know that this was under discussion elswhere although there was concern over a further drop in temperature and getting all the gritting down. Wasn't blaming anyone just making an observation from being out on the ground for most of day and accepting that H&S was always going to be an issue. It was apparent to me at 9am this morning and again at 3pm when I went home.

There might not be a good time to ever call a game off but not sure that it couldn't have been made earlier.