FOLLOWING a successful Malvern League series earlier in the year, Barnards Green matchman Mark Newman took top honours on the first WDUAA winter league contest on a wind-lashed and unresponsive Perdiswell section of the canal.

Drawn on the Ash tree peg 72 towards the bottom of the match length, Newman put a meagre 3-10-14 on the scales to secure a narrow victory.

Staring across on the caster, the former Alans Tackle captain took two small perch early in the match before a change to maggot bait, presented in the deeper channel, saw Newman's frail hook length bitten off by a huge eel!

An innovative change of tackle to a braided hooklength saw him successfully land two good eels along with a twelve ounce roach which fell to the new tactics.

Second place went to another regular winner on the venue Tim Noke who, after landing a rare ten ounce crucian carp on his first cast when the fish took his breadpunch bait, went on to add six good caster roach from across by the reeds on Blackpole peg three, giving the Worcester Match Group member a total catch of 3-5-15.

Third was Kidderminster towpath ace Gary Owen (Good Intent) who landed an all roach net of 2-15-6 from peg 36 on, by his own admission, anything he put on the hook!

Fourth was last week's open winner Phil Hoare (Bridgnorth MG) with two chub and one eel taken from peg 54 next to the bridge weighing 2-13-8.

Teams on the day were predictably; Good Intent first with 21 points, Worcester MG second with 22 and joint third, both Hotrods and Phoenix with 25 points.

The next round is on Sunday, October 28 when the more prolific town sections of the canal will be used.

Mick Weston's recent domination of Portobello matches continued last week when the club visited the river Alne near Alcester for a float only match.

Finding the river very low, clear and weed-bound, most members struggled to take fish but Weston, calling on his many years of experience, managed to whittle out a number of small chub on pole fished luncheon meat, finishing with a respectable total of 5-2-0.

Second was another very experienced matchman Billy Hill, who took an all small fish net on caster weighing 1-15-8. Third place went to new member Phil Bennett who, after falling in the river at the start of the contest, overcame the shock to land a good eel and a few bits for 1-8-0, and fourth was stillwater expert Nic Hill weighing in with 1-5-0 taken on a stickfloat and maggot combination.

Considering the atrocious conditions on Sunday, Bristol angler Lee Nutland did exceptionally well to put 95-10-0 on the scales to win the Moorlands farm open match held on the Meadow pool.

Drawn on peg eight, Nutland pole fished caster bait at just seven metres to beat the gale force wind and produce his first victory at the fishery for some time. Second place was taken by venue regular Chris Hill (Fosters) with 76-6-0 and in third, Bob Jones (Moorlands) weighing 59-12-0.

The previous day's open provided Shakespeare stillwater star Neil McKinnon with yet another outstanding victory when he presented caster bait, up in the water at 12 metres on Meadow 49, to take an all carp net of 102-12-0, beating Mick Henshall into second place with a weight of 67-0-0.

Anglers wishing to practise their bloodworm skills should note that Gary Plant is running a number of Sunday matches on the silver fish pool where the bait will be allowed.

Prospects: While both Severn and Wye could be carrying extra flood water this weekend, the river Avon should be in good condition with the famous bream shoal at Pensham in a feeding mood.

Commercial fisheries are now starting to revert back to caster or corn baits while on the canal, the massive turn out for the annual Banks's cup match on Sunday will no doubt find that caster will still be the best bet.