London Irish. WHY???

[West Stand Man]

So, all those who blame the rugby for the 'state' of the ptich -- how do you explain its remarkable recovery once the weather improved, the club got a set of UV lights and they were able to do some maintenance on it?

Seems to me like the solution to the problem is not as simple as 'blame the rugby'?

It still wasn't great. The area on the left-hand side of the goal in front of the South Stand had a large patch of mud, very obviously from rugby.

errr no. That is from goalkeepers warming up using the temporary goals. Sorry to disappoint you.

[Stranded]

So, all those who blame the rugby for the 'state' of the ptich -- how do you explain its remarkable recovery once the weather improved, the club got a set of UV lights and they were able to do some maintenance on it?

Seems to me like the solution to the problem is not as simple as 'blame the rugby'?

There's been no rugby played on the pitch since the 9th April - 24 days prior to Sunday's game. HTH.

Surely all those still in denial about the the affect that rugby has on the pitch can make that connection?

Explain the state of Swansea's pitch then?

[North Somerset Royal]

What I couldn't explain was that on Sunday the pitch seemed OK at the start of the game but deteriorated rapidly. (Obviously it looked great from higher up in the stand, but that doesn't prove anything.) There's clearly only one way forward though - kick the squatters out for a couple of years and see what happens to it. If it's better than this season, tell them to get lost for ever.

Hardly squatters. LI are pulling in some big crowds these days and are generating large receipts from catering & hospitality in the ground and hotel as well as the fees paid for use of the stadium. Fact is the Mad Stad would not be viable if it had to rely on RFC alone.

[Terminal Boardom]

I don't think that anyone can complain about the quality of the pitch on Sunday. A vast improvement. As we are to share the pitch with LI, then the use of artificial lamps must become the norm.

[Muskrat]

So, all those who blame the rugby for the 'state' of the ptich -- how do you explain its remarkable recovery once the weather improved, the club got a set of UV lights and they were able to do some maintenance on it?

Seems to me like the solution to the problem is not as simple as 'blame the rugby'?

There's been no rugby played on the pitch since the 9th April - 24 days prior to Sunday's game. HTH.

Surely all those still in denial about the the affect that rugby has on the pitch can make that connection?

Explain the state of Swansea's pitch then?

With the greatest respect I'm not interested in Swansea's pitch, we only play one game a year there. I'm interested in Reading's pitch, which clearly, undeniably, suffers because of it's dual use.

[West Stand Man]

With the greatest respect I'm not interested in Swansea's pitch, we only play one game a year there. I'm interested in Reading's pitch, which clearly, undeniably, suffers because of it's dual use.

Oh, for heaven's sake get your case straight before spouting.

It is undeniable that the pitch has been in a relatively poor state, we have all seen that. The cause is, however, still a matter of some conjecture. It might be dual usage and it might be several other factors (discussed here and elsewhere). The point about the Swansea pitch is that it might show that dual use is not necessarily a cause of problems on its own. Ergo, a pitch can be subjected to heavy use in certain circumstances - and we ought to investigate whether there is a reason why it is that their pitch is ok and ours isn't.

No use at all could still leave a pitch in a poor state if it attacked by nematodes, and/or a really bad cold wet winter.

So think first speak later.

[Stranded]

But you have to ask why one pitch that has the exact same amount of dual use has won pitch of the year in similar weather conditions, whilst ours has suffered.

It would suggest a problem other than the rugby has been the root cause.

[West Stand Man]

But you have to ask why one pitch that has the exact same amount of dual use has won pitch of the year in similar weather conditions, whilst ours has suffered.

It would suggest a problem other than the rugby has been the root cause.

Precisely my point.