Otley v Pateley Bridge

Adjudicators: JK, AB, PL

Timing: 10:45 and 12:15

Prices: 1.25 and 1:30

The long awaited and twice postponed game between two renowned teams was graced with the presence of three fully accredited Adjudicators. And one of them ignored the pain and discomfort of a gouty foot, to take part in what was expected to be one of the games of the season

The game started with a nicely warm and juicy pie from Otley, where the Adjudicators also noted some hot roast pork with fine fat and crackling. The pie was shorter, but probably wider than the usual, and one Adjudicator, (the usual one), expressed some dissatisfaction with the low height of the meat content, and the thinness of the crust. The pies were hungrily devoured, and viewed favourably, though there were a couple of minor qualifications about the softness, and possible doughiness, of the crust, and over smooth texture of the meat.

The journey to Pateley Bridge was complicated by a diversion, and on arrival the Adjudicators promptly took a well earned half-time drink in The Crown.

The Bridge pies were no longer warm, but had a firm and tasty crust, and the filling was of a height which satisfied all Adjudicators. Additionally the meat was considered to be of an excellent texture, tasty, lightly seasoned, though possibly ever so slightly over salted. However, the Adjudicators had no hesitation in unanimously awarding the game to The Bridge.

Well done, The Bridge, no mean feat winning an away game against a warm pie.

The post game drink was taken in the Craven Arms, in Appletreewick, reached via narrow and windy country roads, on which, as luck would have it, we only met oncoming traffic at the few and far between passing points. The pub was nice and cosy, with a wide range of beers and an interesting looking menu board. It also sports a rare, but highly accurate, Weather Stone, outside. One of the Adjudicators was tempted into buying a pack of their take-away Home Made Cider Black Pudding. He’s hoping to try that out tomorrow.