THE Malvern United Angling Association's winter league series continued after the christmas break with a contest on the Avon at Birlingham.

The river had a tinge of colour and was carrying a few inches of extra water which all pointed to good catches being taken, but unfortunately this didn't turn out to be the case with most competitors struggling for bites.

Match secretary and venue regular Ian Goddard showed the way when he managed to winkle out a few small roach and perch from a swim midway up the stretch on the maggot feeder to take the contest with just 2-0-0.

Close behind in second place was Mike Spragg , drawn at the top end of the venue Mike employed small feeder tactics with maggot on the hook to take 1-12-0 of small roach.

Third spot went to Tom Hawker who took a similar net on the feeder for 1-8-0.

The latest round was fished on the pool at Mathon and members arrived to find that half the pool had frozen over night and continued to freeze during the contest.

This was to be a real grueller and so it proved. After breaking the ice Eskimo-style, competitors fished valiantly but to no avail, all except John Barr who somehow managed to conjure up four tiny roach from the icy depths to take the contest.

The next match in the league is on Sunday (February 1) on the Avon, draw 9am, fish 9.30-1.30pm.