Connacht bank on straw to prevent pitch freezing

CONNACHT Rugby chiefs yesterday covered the Sportsground with 80 bales of straw in a bid to ensure that Friday’s Amlin Challenge Cup clash with Harlequins goes ahead.

With temperatures forecasted to plummet later this week, the provincial grounds committee decided to utilise a procedure used successfully by Munster earlier this month at Thomond Park.

The straw, donated by Turloughmore farmer JP Shaughnessy and his sons John and Paul will protect the ground from frost and also generates heat over the surface.

The straw was spread across the pitch by members of local rugby club OLBC, who share the Sportsground with Connacht Rugby, and will be re-baled later in the week.

The game is fixed for Friday night at 7pm.