Pateley Bridge v Birkenshaw 27 October 2018
Saturday, 27th October
Adjudicators: AB, PL, JK
Timing: 09:40 and 12:05
Prices: 1.40 and 1.20
The first semi-finał of the 2018 PL Championship, required an early start from the Adjudicators, with the first pickup at 8:00am. By 9:30am, all three Adjudicators and a young observer known as Bullboy, had parked up at The Bridge, having crossed three mighty Yorkshire Rivers, and admired three Yorkshire Dales. The Bridge opened with a hot pie, and the jelly was clearly still in liquid form, as this Adjudicator saw, when peering into the hole in the crust. Experienced in dealing with all temperatures of pie, the Adjudicators and even young Bullboy, (advised by his proud father), were easily able to manipulate the eating of the pie, so as to allow minimum spillage. In the bitingly cold wind, the hot pies were loudly applauded. The crust was firm, without being too hard, the meat content still fresh enough to crumble on a bite. The flowing juices ensured that no mouthful could be considered too dry. As the Adjudicators made their way to the bridge over the Nidd, and the still flowering water meadow, they were fully agreed that it would take something special to top this performance.
When the Adjudicators drove out of The Bridge, climbing the steep slopes of the dale, they ran into near blizzard conditions, but they drove on regardless, mindful of their duties, and keenly aware of the tight schedule which had them pencilled in at The Shoulder Of Mutton in Bradford for 11am, and for a quick stop en route, at the Mackenzies Yorkshire Smokehouse, where one Adjudicator and his son bought out the whole stock of chickens.
Half-time drinks were taken pretty much on schedule, though some delay was caused by young Bullboy, now travelling in his own vehicle, but without any money, and forced to beg on the streets of Bradford for someone to pay his 70p parking fee. Fortunately, this Adjudicator happened to be walking past on his way to change the battery of his watch, and was able to prevent any further embarrassment.
The Birkenshaw Pie proved no match for The Bridge. Though not a bad pie by any means, it was on the cold side, and the result was called before the post match drinks were taken in the nearby George IV, a pleasant enough pub, though one in which the Adjudicators chose to drink in the pool room, as the lounge had been designated a Zombie Zone.
So The Bridge claim their place in the PLC Grand Final, with a very strong performance, making the most of their home advantage…….and now wait to see who will emerge as victors of the PLC SF2, in which Cleckheaton entertain Ilkley.