WORCESTER’S Len Merrill made good use of in-form peg one on the River Avon below Twyning to beat a talented turn-out and win the midweek match.

With the venue carrying extra colour, the Whitehall AC angler targeted a mid-river line with maggot and worm baits along with an open-end feeder set-up to net skimmers and bream from 1-4lb and finish with a match-winning 35lb 2oz 0dr.

Runner-up from his peg in the middle of the match length was former WDUAA record holder Mick Weston.

He marked his return to match fishing by taking a similar catch to the winner on feeder going 33-7.

Third place went to Alf Hand who was further upstream where he too netted skimmers for a 30-8 total to beat veteran Tony Hamilton who put 19-8 onto the scales.

A few days earlier, former Cofton Hackett legend John Halfpenny had won a knock-up on the venue with 48-12, Hand came second with 28-4 and Weston third with 15-0.

Les Sanders took an excellent bag of skimmers and roach to win the WDUAA open on the Blanquettes section of the canal.

Drawn on peg eight below the walk-over bridge, the former Worcester national man used his favoured bread punch approach to net a run of fish to 1lb throughout the day and end with a 10-2-8 total.

At the other end was John Moloney who took second with a bread and worm-caught net going 3-8-11.

In third was Nick Vaughan who finally found a few roach on caster as well as bread to weigh 3-4.

WDUAA have announced the venues for their forthcoming Spring Pairs League.

They are Blackpole and Top Perdiswell on March 18, Bottom Perdiswell and Blanquettes on April 15, Flag Meadow and Viaduct on April 29, Factories and Blockhouse on May 13 and Perdiswell Top and Bottom on May 27.

More details are available from Colin Pettifer on 01905 25193 or Keith Hunt on 07918106533.

Woodland View, Saturday silverfish league round two: 1 K Woodfield 26-4, 2 K Slade 16-12, 3 D Hughes 15-10; league: 1 K Woodfield & T Troth 2, 3 I Swanson 3; Sunday pairs league: 1 E Bryant 65-8, 2 T Whitcher 46-8, 3 O Boswell 44-7; league after three rounds: 1 G Clark & O Boswell 18, 2 P Sibley & P Wedge 22.

Moorlands Farm, Tuesday, Costcutter open: 1 P Bailey 43-6, 2 P Hadlington 26-6, 3 C Bennett 20-6; Saturday open: 1 M Henshall 53-6, 2 P Rice 33-8, 3 D Williams 29-0; Sunday open: 1 R Kings 56-9, 2 C Pace 50-0, 3 P Rice 39-15.