Published at 13:15, Sunday, 23 September 2012

CHANTS of “who ate all the pies” will be levelled at Barrow Raiders after they tucked into a post-training treat ahead of the Championship One Grand Final.

The side are preparing for their big day out in Warrington next weekend.

To help them on their way, Brian O’Loughlin and Vanessa Coverly, of Thomas’s Bakery, popped into Craven Park on Thursday night.

The Furness bakers – winners at the British Pie Awards for several years running – want Raiders to match their achievements in taking the top prize and sent down a batch of their best-baked goods to fuel them after training.

Wiganer Andy Ballard was quick to live up to his home town’s pie-eating reputation, while loose forward Dan Toal and half-back Scott Kaighan took to Facebook to say thanks.

“How good is free pies and cakes after training?!” said Mr Kaighan.

Raiders’ coach Darren Holt, who tucked into the pies, eclairs and other fancies with relish, felt it was a fine way to come out of a hard training session as they build up to next weekend’s big game.

“The bakery wanted to congratulate us on getting to the final and they rang up and asked us if they could bring some pies down for the boys,” said Mr Holt.

“Of course, I had to think about it for a really long time, and then said ‘by all means’!

“The boys really appreciated them. They finished the training session and it was a bit of a novelty, a bit of a nice twist and they were lovely as well.

“It wasn’t just pies – there were chocolate eclairs, cake and everything else – it was a nice change for the boys and a very good gesture from the bakery.”

This year, Thomas’s – who have branches in Barrow, Ulverston and Dalton – scooped two golds and a bronze at the awards, with its beef and potato taking a top honour in the pub pie category, the Bramley apple pie also winning gold and the chicken and ham getting a bronze.

It is only gold Barrow will be interested in a week tomorrow, when they take on the winner’s of tomorrow’s semi-final between Doncaster and Workington.

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk