WORCESTER all-rounder Mark Newman capitalised on a good draw when he took an excellent winter canal weight of 8-5-0 to win the WDUAA open.

Twenty-eight anglers lined the towpath between the Arboretum and Diglis but a draw on the productive lower section was what everyone wanted.

And they were right as the bottom four pegs, including Newman on 253, dominated.

The Barnards Green AC man offered chopped worm and caster in the centre channel to net chub, perch and roach throughout.

On the adjacent peg 252 was Steve Middleton (Fox AC) whose caster bait produced a mainly roach net tipping the scales at a level seven pounds.

Seasoned campaigner Tony Hamilton netted two chub and a big perch on caster which helped give the Droitwich star figures of 6-9-0.

Hamilton beat Dave Lowe (Bewdley) who took 5-7-0 from the next peg.

Club secretary Mike Hope headed a good match on the Plough AC pool at Cotheridge when he took four carp to eight pounds.

Hope offered maggot and cat meat at just two metres from the bank on peg six, giving him a winning 18-10-0.

Regular winner of club contests, Nigel Crane, had to settle for second with pole and worm producing a run of carp to three pounds for a total of 17-4-0 from peg 17.

Cat meat also did the business for Wilf Evens with the bait on pole tackle from peg 22 capturing 11-10-0.

In fourth position came Andy Sankey with 10-7-0 from peg 10.

Round two of the Portobello winter series, held on the club's pool at Rushwick, gave southern exile Ron Eagle his second consecutive victory.

The small fish expert netted roach, perch and tench to 7-14-0 by offering caster and maggot bait at five metres on peg 11.

In second spot was club treasurer Wayne Parkin who netted a solitary meat-fed carp from peg 18 of 6-10-0.

Pete Coldrick once again got among the winners when he took a third-placed 6-8-0 of silver fish to the scales.

And in fourth position came new member Alan Tebbitts whose 2-12-0 came from peg eight.

A ten ounce difference was enough to give Pete Wellington the £500 bonus peg pay-out when he won a fur and feather contest at Moorlands Farm.

An all-carp weight of 46-12-0 arrived courtesy of his sweetcorn bait at 13 metres on peg seven on Moors pool.

Steve Harris (SBS) took 46-2-0 to beat team-mate Carl Astbury's 41-13-0.

Round seven of Saturday's big £10,000 winter league saw Ben Sanford net all carp from close in on peg one on Moors pool for a winning 58-9-0.

Mossella SW angler Gary Etheridge claimed second with 45-3-0 and Sean McArthy (Welsh Wizards) was third, weighing 40-7-0. Teams on the day were Mossella SW 15, followed by Mossella Central on 27 and DGL 26 points.

Sunday's fur and feather produced another close encounter with Neville Groves just getting the verdict over Bilston's Colin Pace 25-13-0 to 24-7-0.

All WDUAA waters are available over the holiday period except Pitchcroft which is booked on Wednesday, December 29.

n Canal and river venues have been in fine shape during the mild spell but now the colder weather has arrived towpath sport may be curtailed.

However, Severn anglers should rejoice with the lower water levels producing excellent roach catches in the area, with Pitchcroft in excellent form.