Ilkley v Pateley Bridge 1 September 2018

Adjudicators: AB, PL, JK

Timing: 10:50 and 12:25

Prices: 1.30 and 1.40

After the traditional Pie League Summer Break, all three Adjudicators were keen to get back to their duties, (eating pies), and were very much expecting an exciting game, between two of the more highly regarded teams in the competition. And they were not disappointed.

Ilkley opened with a gently warm, very well seasoned and extremely tasty pie, but one which was slightly let down by the overdone, and hard crust. But overall, the Adjudicators were very impressed, and wondered if this was going to be enough to inflict the first defeat of the season on The Bridge.

Half-time drinks were taken in The Lister Arms, the first pub which the Adjudicators were able to find open at 11:05. And before setting off to The Bridge, one of the Adjudicators took advantage of the still open Hen Hut, to purchase a dozen duck eggs, (though not all were for his own consumption).

The Adjudicators chose to use the services of the Jaguar Satellite Navigation System for the journey to The Bridge, and were rewarded with an interesting and scenic journey passing the Askwith Arms, and travelling through Blubberhouses, and then along windy country roads before arriving in Pateley Bridge close to The Royal Oak. Unfortunately, the early part of the trip was marred by the numbers of cyclists, who appeared to be a constant source of interest to the bears driving along parts of the route. The bears chose to drive slowly, close to the cyclists, presumably to satisfy their curiosity, rather than simply accelerating aggressively past them.

The Bridge offered a less warm, but still clearly fresh pie, with a tasty, well textured meat content, though not as tastefully seasoned as the Ilkley pie. However, the crust was probably baked to perfection, and on the day, was clearly the superior of the two.

The Adjudicators could not reach an immediate verdict, and took post match drinks in the Royal Oak, where discussions continued over the merits of each Pie. Arguments were produced in favour of both pies, and at least one Adjudicator wavered in his verdict, favouring one over the other, before changing his mind, back and forth. In the end, the Adjudicators reached the unanimous verdict, that a draw was the fairest result.

The draw, the first of the 2018 PL Season, leaves Pateley Bridge as the likely winners, but with second place, (and qualification to the play-offs), still in the balance, with Skipton needing a draw in their last game against Otley, to ensure themselves of a play-off spot.

Finally, for those interested in other foody matters, I will add, that on the return journey, the Adjudicators stopped at The Mackenzies Smokehouse, a shop, restaurant, cafe and butchers complex. Though unable to comment, on all aspects of The Smokehouse, all Adjudicators did visit the shop, and were impressed by the variety of interesting foods on offer, and each Adjudicator made their own purchases of goods for home consumption.