VERSATILE matchman John Maloney notched up his most impressive victory to date when he won the opening round of the division one Drennan Super league, fished on the Shropshire Union canal at Gailey.

Drawn on the fancied 'A' section Maloney, who has changed clubs yet again and is now with the Matchbox Silver outfit, started well with squatt and pinkie presented across to a moored boat.

He took around two pounds of small roach in the first three hours before the inhabitants of the vessel decided to open the window directly above the shoal!

An obvious change of approach was needed and Maloney was delighted when he tried caster bait , fished off the bow end, and was rewarded with a good chub almost immediately.

This was followed by two more samples giving the Worcester ace an excellent 6-7-0 total.

Second place went to another city matchman, former Bank's Cup winner Gary Rowberry (WMG), who took a fine all roach catch from his peg in 'B' section weighing 5-6-0.

Top team on the day were Matchbox with 28 points.

Competitors on the first Malvern League of the season found conditions perfect but fish in an unresponsive mood.

While the River Severn at the bottom of Clevelode looked in fine shape with fish topping everywhere Tony Marris, representing the organising Hanley club, needed just one feeder caught bream of 4-8-0, taken early in the match, to secure the top spot.

Second was another Hanley member, veteran Mick Harris, who also landed one bream on a blockend from peg 21 and weighing 2-5-0 and third, Bob Evans (Barnards Green) with a small chub and eel catch going 2-0-8.

Top team on the day was Barnards Green 'A' with 55 points followed by Hanley with 48 and Kempsey and Malvern equal third with 45.

No doubt teams will be looking forward to the next round in two weeks time on the same venue!

Youngsters took the honours on the latest Swan AC match held on the canal at Sixways when 14-year-old Matt Woods scored an impressive victory with a weight of 6-9-0.

After taking two superb chub early on using caster bait, the best going two pounds six ounces, Matt topped up his catch with a few roach and skimmers by changing to squatt presented well across.

Runner-up was another canal specialist Andy Collins who landed a two pound bream on maggot fished in the centre channel before netting small fish also on squatt later in the match.

In third place was Marlon Goss with one bream and a few bits weighing 3-1-0 and fourth Jim Collins with 2-3-0 of 'punch' fish.

Anyone interested in joining the club, who fish mainly canal venues, should contact Dave Bennett on 07901-864944.

New member Mick Turberfield stole the show during the latest Portobello AC contest fished on the bottom pool at Rushwick when he took a three carp catch, all caught on pole fished sweetcorn, for a match winning 18-6-0.

Second from peg six, an area he knows very well after drawing it most weeks, was club secretary Max Hill who landed several of the pools small tench population for a 15-3-0 total.

Third place went to John Ludlow with one carp and a few bits weighing 11-3-0 and fourth Nic Hill with 10-14-0.

One club determined to raise their already considerable profile is the Barbourne AC, particularly after being featured in a national match fishing magazine recently.

Members' latest venture was a pairs match, held on the prolific Moorlands Farm complex, where Martin Harris and Lee Deeley took a hefty 77-7-0 of carp to the scales, both anglers catching up in the water on luncheon meat bait.

Second duo were Ade Flynn and Chris Carter who came close with 74-15-0, third were Paul Davies and Gordon Knight with 43-14-0 and fourth Roy Bosworth and Mick Taylor weighing 37-1-0.

The club are holding an open match on their popular pool at Cotheridge on Saturday, July 21, entry costs £10.

Details from Roy Bosworth on 01905- 26977.