Cleckheaton v Birkenshaw
Saturday, 12th May
Adjudicators: JK, AB, IW (part qualified)
Timing: 10:20 and 11:00
Prices: 1.30 and 1.20
Two unbeaten teams came together in this long awaited clash, which proved to be worth the wait.
Cleckheaton opened cleverly….playing the “next batch ready in 10 minutes” card, and forcing the Adjudicators to mosey down to the Obadiah Brooke, for a pre-match drink. And though the 10am chimes had barely finished…..the establishment, and its outdoor seating area, already hosted a motley crew of healthy red faces and tattoos. With their appetites whetted, the Adjudicators were more than favourably disposed towards the nicely warm offering. The crust was noted as being on the hard side, (with the part qualified adjudicator being unable to eat all of his), but was still deemed worthy of praise. The meat content was substantial, of good texture, and well seasoned, nicely buffered by a soft, but solidifying jelly.
Half-time drinks were skipped on this occasion, and after a short delay for the apprentice to find a Turf Accountant and place a bizarre bet, the Adjudicators were in Birkenshaw.
Their response was solid, with a pie that still had some residual warmth, a good crust, tasty meat and jelly. The part-qualified detected some over-salting…….but this view was not shared by the senior Adjudicators. It was impossible to call an immediate result, and the Adjudicators chose to delay their decision, until they had a chance for some post-match reflections over a pint. This was taken at the Heathfield Farm, sensibly already serving at a time, when it can be difficult for the Adjudicators to find liquid refreshment. The decision was not clear-cut………. and with one Adjudicator being undecided, and the other favouring Cleckheaton……..the part-qualified came into his own…….and swung the result in favour of Cleckheaton. This was a game where home advantage probably proved crucial.
Well done Cleckheaton……..who have now been involved in three close games, but have managed to always raise their game enough, to get the result…….they are now certain to qualify for the Pie League Play-Offs. For Birkenshaw, this will be a huge disappointment….but they were by no means disgraced, and perhaps unlucky to be playing away, against a side that look to be running into peak form……. And, as an after-note, I can add that the Birkenshaw Pie was favourably viewed by non-Adjudicators…….and in one case, where a non-Adjudicator had the opportunity to compare the two, (albeit some time after the game), The Birkenshaw was preferred.