LAST Saturday saw the penultimate round of the Fisheasy Teams Winter League where ten teams are vying for a place in the prestigious Avon Teams Championships to be staged at the annual Evesham Festival in August.

On what proved to be one of the coldest days in the Vale this winter, Shakespeare angler Nigel Davis performed almost a miracle when he brought to the scales eight chub and some roach for a total weight of 19-10-0 from Town peg 42.

That was obviously a lucky number this week as Pershore Match Angler Jim Smith came in second off the same Ferry peg with 4-9-0.

Third place saw another local angler - Marc Leach from Broadway - fishing for the Odds & Sods who weighed in 3-14-0.

Daiwa Gordon League were well represented in fourth and fifth places courtesy of John Curtiss (peg 46T) and Jason Buick (Peg 5F) with 3-11-0 and 3-12-8 respectively.

Evesham's Tony Bench (Shakespeare) finished sixth with 3-9-0 off Ferry peg 56.

Teams: Odds & Sods 41pts; Shakespeare 36; Daiwa GL 34; Pershore Match 27; Quorn 27; Cardiff Nomads 27; Portway Sensas 21; W B Clarke VDE 19; Foxmatch 15; Bait Box 8. Overall: W B Clarke VDE AFS 9; Shakespeare 16; Daiwa Gordon League 19; Quorn 21; Sensas Portway 24; Foxmatch 25; Odds & Sods 28; Cardiff Nomads 30; Pershore Match 34; Bait Box 36. Individual: Steve Ashmore (WBC) 45; T Bench 44; Tony Skinner (Shakespeare) 43; Tony Marshall (Quorn) 43.

The final match takes place on Saturday, February 25 and promises to be a close-fought tussle with three teams still in with a chance.

The winning team will be invited to take part in August's Avon Teams Championships sponsored by Midland Match Angler.

Evesham and District Association

THE final of the Knockout Cup saw Stuart's AC record a resounding victory over Jubilee Silver.

The winners boasted the leading trio of individual weights and ran out easy winners.

Members are reminded that the annual meeting, for corporate business only, will take place at headquarters on Wednesday, February 15 starting at 8pm.

Any tables of motion from clubs or individuals should be forwarded to the secretary Howard Norledge to arrive seven days before the meeting.

Evesham WMC

AN EXTREMELY cold and unresponsive Riv-er Avon at Cropthorne made for tough going.

Just one angler out of ten competing caught fish and it was Ian Jennings's solitary chub for 1.10.0 that took the lead in the Winter League. The next match is at Mythe Farm, draw at 7.45am.

Manor Farm Leisure

Results - Windmill Lake (January 25): 1 Chris Coleman (MFL ) 59.12.0 (peg 22); 2 Robin Flowers (Ton-up Baits) 54.7.0 (25); 3 Jim Smith (Sensas Portway) 47.5.0 (24). January 26 (Affordable Open, Island): 1 Adrian Davis (Gloucester) 49.10.0 (7); 2 Horace Davies (MFL) 38.14.0 (24); Norman Onens (MFL) 30.13.0 (4). January 28 (Island): 1 Gavin Heritage (Stratford) 38.12.0 (17); 2 Andy Pollard (Mosella Harriers) 34.2.0 (5); 3 Ian Jones (MFL) 26.10.0 (15). January 29 (Island): 1 Chris Cameron (Mosella South West) 44.6.0 (5); 2 A Davis 34.8.0 (27); 3 J Smith 28.0.0 (35).

Evesham Jubilee Society

A FROZEN Fishery meant hard work for members last weekend when chub and carp were the only species netted.

Phil Seedhouse ran out the winner with 5.12.0, with Tim Hunt (2.12.0) and Paul Law (1.14.0) making up the minor placings.

Members are fishing a Stillwater Series match on the WDUAA Canal on Sunday and are asked to gather at the Brookhouse and Magnet at 7.45am.