Temperatures remain way above normal for the time of year. But on the minus side, the unsettled weather brought further periods of rainfall running right up to and including the weekend. Not that this is all bad news, as those warmer conditions and constant run-offs keep most fish active. None more so than the River Witham which continues to run at a fair rate of knots between tides, but keeps on producing good nets of roach, perch or big bream.

Wednesday’s match produced a mix of all three as Roger Woolhouse emerged top dog with a touch under 18lbs of quality fish. Switching from the usual roach method to a chopped worm and feeder based approach, he then proceeded to catch a few large perch to keep Ted Rowe at bay, holding on by only 3ozs. Boston’s Chris Mawer was also in the hunt until late in the match, but at the end of the day finished some 25ozs short. Results: 1 Roger Woolhouse, Bardney, 17lbs 15ozs; 2 Ted Rowe, Lincoln, 17lbs 12ozs; 3 Chris Mawer, Boston, 16lbs 3ozs; 4 Steve Winter, Boston, 14lbs 2ozs; 5 Alan Houlton, Lincs County, 13lbs 6ozs.

No such luck for the Sleaford Legionnaires AC who could only find a few small roach over the same pegs. None reached the 5lbs mark as Stuart King returned a single ounce under that to lead the field with Geoff Bewick taking second. Highlight of the day though, was the third place achieved by 12year old youngster Peter Briggs, who held onto that slot by a single ounce ahead of more experienced opposition. Results: 1 Stuart King 4lbs 15ozs; 2 Geoff Bewick 4lbs 4ozs; 3 Peter Briggs 2lbs 11ozs.

Saturday’s match found the river running off at high speed and then as the high tide took its toll waters soon rose and lapped over the fishing platforms. Not too fazed, the 16 competitors set about their swims with groundbait and maggot at close range and were soon catching quality fish such as roach and skimmers. The odd big bream did materialise but not in sufficient numbers to affect the outcome and Spalding angler Rob Johnson took the top spot with a good net of those smaller species. Alistair Ogilvie also chose similar tactics and whilst finishing within a few ounces of Rob he held on to a sizeable gap of 4½lbs over his nearest rival. In this instance it was none other than Maurice Thacker who can thank a bonus bream and tench for his third place. Results: 1 Rob Johnson, Bourne MG, 18lbs 13ozs; 2 Alistair Ogilvie, VDE Essex County, 17lbs 15ozs; 3 Maurice Thacker, Whisby AS, 13lbs 6ozs; 4 Les Smith, Lincoln, 11lbs 1oz; 5 Rick Tweddle, Bourne MG, 10lbs 5ozs

With most major leagues and competitions now at an end, attendances at the sweep on the River Steeping returned to respectable figures as 21 hopefuls put in an appearance last Saturday. Class usually tells in the world of fishing and when a Van Den Eynde Essex star draws an end peg in a match you can normally give him the pools money before you start. This was certainly the case here as Barry Wiggington drew that end peg and put together a good net of roach and a bonus skimmer of 2lb for his winning weight, all taken with a groundbait and pinky approach. Similar tactics brought the runner up spot to ‘Mr Consistent’ Keith Dobson albeit a fair distance behind, and in the minor places Martin Riding and Chris Mawer, in that order. Results: 1 Barry Wigginton, VDE Essex County, 14lbs 8ozs; 2 Keith Dobson, Westwood Lakes, 10lbs 6ozs; 3 Martin Riding. Wainfleet AC. 7lbs 10ozs; 4 Chris Mawer. Boston. 7lbs 6ozs.

Bingham AA paid a return visit to the South Forty Foot Drain at Swineshead Bridge on Sunday, and were looking to catch the water in a friendlier mood than January’s flood conditions when only two fish in total were caught. Sadly it was in much the same parlous state and so a quick decision was made to divert around to the West Fen Drain at Frithville. Water here was only slightly up and coloured and although most fish were on the small side each and every one of the dozen anglers brought at least 2 ½ lbs to scales. Unfortunately for the others, end peg ruled as Paul Gilbert was that lucky angler, duly winning the match with just over 7lbs and hence the winter series. Matt Wallington came home second just over a pound down, but easily secured that position by almost 2lbs ahead of Steve Simpson. Results: 1 Paul Gilbert 7lbs 1oz; 2 Matt Wallington 5lbs 15ozs; 3 Steve Simpson 4lbs 1oz; 4 Richard Landon 3lbs 10ozs; 5 Dave Millington 3lbs 8ozs.

Fishtoft AC’s trip to the R. Steeping at Wainfleet proved to be too close to call as Jerry Clifton and Rod Asher tied for the top spot. Small roach were the only takers as they both used a combination of pole, groundbait and pinky and matched each other fish for fish for the duration. Mark Cook did likewise but failed to keep pace and finished third nearly 1½lbs down. Next Sunday will see them pay a visit to the Devon mouth area of the Newark Dyke, meet McDonalds, Sleaford 7.30am. Results: Equal 1 Jerry Clifton and Rod Asher both 7lbs 14ozs; 3 Mark Cook 6lbs 8ozs.

The Fenland Pike Club had one of their best ever days on a visit to Burnt House Bridge at Whittlesey. Many fish were seen to be active whilst members were setting up and this continued as the match progressed to the very end. At the weigh in Spider Pawson was declared the runaway winner with 15 fish in total, almost doubling the second placed weight of ‘Big Mark’. In turn he himself finished well clear of Andy Walker in third and Ernie Crisp fourth. A grand total of 43 fish were caught, weighing in at a stupendous 236lbs 7ozs! Results: 1 Spider Pawson 87lbs 6ozs; 2 Big Mark 44lbs 10ozs; 3 Andy Walker 29lbs 10ozs. 4 Ernie Crisp 21lbs 6ozs.
The club will tackle the South Forty Foot Drain at Swineshead Bridge this coming Sunday.

A reminder that match organiser John Spalton will run a pairs match on the Rivers Welland and Glen on Sunday March 4. To book tickets, please ring John on 07808 750779 as soon as possible.

Week ending February 18

John tops scales on a day of full nets

It was a much fresher weekend than was predicted earlier in the week, but still much better than the norm for this time of year. And there was another hectic programme of matches around the county some thing that arguably continues to prove the shift in global warming. Good weights were again produced in most cases.

The Wednesday sweep on the River Witham brought another crop of decent catches but nothing quite prepared Saturday competitors for what was to follow on that day, but more of that presently. A string of very close weights as Lincoln’s Tim Larter emerged the winner from a line of three adjacent anglers who all produced double figure weights. Results: 1 Tim Larter 11lbs 7ozs; 2 Roger Woolhouse Bardney 10lbs 14ozs; 3 Alan Houlton Sensas Lincs County 10lbs 12ozs.

On now to Saturday (February 17) and double figure nets were commonplace, only a single angler failing to achieve that landmark with just 9½lbs. At the other end of the scale, and 30lbs plus was needed to make the prize list at that, one pound separating fourth from second, and an even closer single ounce between second placed Alan Houlton and match organiser Ron Chambers. In effect these were nowhere in it as John Kimpson almost doubled that second placed weight, taking a fraction over 58lbs. As you may have gathered by now, these were not roach catches, but after an indifferent start taking perch to the whip feeder, a switch to groundbait feeder saw a succession of 5lb bream fall to the winner from then until the final whistle. Others of course made the switch too late after either seeing or hearing of this turn of events and so did well to achieve the 30lbs category. Results: 1 John Kimpson, Grimsby, 58lbs 0½oz; 2 Alan Houlton, Sensas Lincs County, 31lbs 13ozs; 3 Ron Chambers, Riverside Tackle, 31lbs 12ozs; 4 Graham Worley 30lbs 13ozs.

Due to other commitments only seven anglers turned out for the latest Saturday sweep on the River Steeping at Wainfleet. The river stayed true to recent form and despite appearances by Essex County anglers local matchman Kevin Harrison scored a convincing victory over Barry Wigginton and Alistair Ogilvie. Results: 1 Kevin Harrison, Wainfleet AC, 11lbs 2ozs; 2 Barry Wigginton, Essex County, 10lbs 2ozs; 3 Alistair Ogilvie, Essex County, 9lbs 2ozs.

It’s a junior league grueller

Round five of the East Coast Junior League at Westwood Lakes, Boston on Sunday turned out to be a real grueller for some as the lower temperatures seem to have put the fish down in recent days, some pleasure anglers in mid-week not even recording a single bite. The recently stocked middle lake certainly saved the day for some as big fish failed to show and roach were the only takers. Despite that, the top weight was actually returned from the big lake as Boston’s Reece Dillamore won the match from peg 11 with some ease, being the sole angler to finish in double figures. Kings Lynn lad Steven Hillman clung on to second place as young Joe Paton took third, a mere 2ozs behind. Results: 1 Reece Dillamore, Boston Green, 11lbs 4oz; 2 Steven Hillman, King’s Lynn Gold, 6lbs 8oz; 3Joe Paton, Boston Red, 6lbs 6oz.

Despite the fact that both Boston teams competed under a major handicap of a man short, they still managed to improve their position overall thanks to great efforts by match winner Reece Dillamore and Tyrell Dawson, section second and Luke Morley third in section. The Boston Red team of Jonathon Taylor, Chris Weedon and Joe Paton actually moved up from fourth place to joint third in the table. Teams on the day: 1 Lincoln A 13pts; equal 2 Boston Green and Lincoln B 14pts; 4 King’s Lynn Blue 16pts; 5Boston Red 18pts. Overall: 1 Boston Green 55pts; 2 King’s Lynn Gold 72pts; equal 3 Boston Red, Lincoln A and Holbeach Red all on 85pts; 6 Lincoln B 88pts.

Winter keeps up good form sequence

There’s no stopping Steve Winter at present, as he followed last week’s second place at the March open with victory in the EMAF match on the River Glen at Pinchbeck on Saturday. Better fish were in short supply and small roach were the only interested party that, of course, kept everyone very busy throughout the five hours. Steve himself landed around 300 such fish with Spalding’s Andy Johnson recording some 50 less for his second place, both of them being pegged up towards West Pinchbeck Bridge. The remaining prize winning weights can be worked out pro rata as Boston anglers crowded the prize list and only Alan King, along with Andy Johnson, spoiled the party. Andy Scott grabbed third, Mark Griggs in fifth as well as Dave Edgoose and Chris Mawer tying in sixth place, all those finishing in the 5lbs range of weights. Results: 1 Steve Winter, Boston A, 9lbs 14ozs; 2 Andy Johnson, Spalding, 8lbs 2½ozs; 3 Andy Scott, Boston A, 5lbs 15ozs; 4 Alan King, Grantham, 5lbs 13ozs; 5 Mark Griggs, Boston A, 5lbs 6ozs; equal 6 Chris Mawer and Dave Edgoose, Boston, 5lbs 3ozs.

You may already have guessed the outcome of the team event from the individual results and with Mark Griggs, Andy Scott and Steve Winter all winning their respective sections it was no contest as the Boston A team came home with the trophy. They won by seven clear points ahead of hosts Spalding and the Boston B team coming home in a creditable third, Dave Edgoose scoring that vital section win to keep them one point ahead of Asfordby in fourth. Results: 1 Boston A 13pts; 2 Spalding 20pts; 3 Boston B 22pts; 4 Asfordby 23pts; 5 Deeping 26pts.

Shinn wins on day of small fish

Fishtoft AC found the fish even smaller on their visit to the River Steeping at Salem Bridge where Gary Shinn held sway. Very small bleak were also among the tiny roach and were not much bigger than the maggots that attracted them, according to second placed Mark Cook and also Rod Asher in third. Results: 1 Gary Shinn 5lbs 11ozs; 2 Mark Cook 4lbs 7ozs; 3 Rod Asher 3lbs 12ozs; 4 Terry Gooding 3lbs 5ozs. Next Sunday (February 25) meet Sluice Bridge 7.30 am.

Visitors dominate league match prize places

Not quite what would be termed a grandstand finish but the final round of the Bourne MG winter league on the town Welland in Spalding still managed to produce 27 double figure nets of roach among the 90 competitors. Essex squad members again featured heavily in the main individual prize list and the winner, in the shape of Lewis Murawski for the B team produced the goods from a peg between the chain bridge and the tax office. Keeping it very simple he took small roach to 3m whip and breadpunch from start to finish amassing a shade under 16lbs. Simon Godfrey was the only angler in the same street as he followed up on last weeks third place to claim second spot this time, proof that practice indeed pays off. Lincs County angler Andy Dixon just manged to hang on to fourth with just 2ozs separating him from Darren Page in third and Chris Jenkinson in fifth.

Teamwise the Essex A team had it all but won on the previous round but made heavy weather of it on the day finishing in fourth behind an improving Wades MG side, their own B team and to much delight, the Mark One Youth team. They (Essex County A) duly claimed the title, but only by two points ahead of their B team with Wades MG holding third spot, but the accolades must surely go to that Mark One Youth outfit who scraped into fourth position right at the death. This in effect was a hybrid team consisting of match organiser John Spalton, and Rob Johnson of recent Witham fame, but also featuring Wisbech youngster Alex Bates. More to the point from our perspective, it also included our own home grown Boston youth in the shapes of Gavin Butler, Jonathon Taylor and Sean Higginbottom – very well done lads against some world class opposition!

Individuals: 1 Lewis Murawski, Essex County B, 15lbs 15ozs; 2 Simon Godfrey, Mark One White, 15lbs 0½oz; 3 Darren Page, VDE Peterborough, 14lbs 2ozs; 4 Andy Dixon, Sensas Lincs County, 14lbs; 5 Chris Jenkinson, Essex County A, 13lbs 14ozs; 6 Wayne Swinscoe, Essex County A, 13lbs 9½ozs. On the day: 1 Wades MG 30pts; 2 Essex B 31pts; 3 Mark One Youth 32pts; 4 Essex County A. Final positions: 1 Essex County A 8pts; 2 Essex County B 10pts; 3 Wades MG 13pts; 4 Mark One Youth 22pts.

Match organiser John Spalton will run a pairs match on the River Welland or Glen on Sunday March 4. To book tickets, please ring John on 07808 750779 as soon as possible.

Week ending February 11

Harding perseveres to land first prize rewards

A very icy midweek unfolded with not too many anglers prepared to face the cold and miserable conditions. Locally, though, I suppose we must be thankful that there was only a slight sprinkling of snow compared to other parts of the country. The Wednesday sweep on the River Witham at Tattershall Bridge took place under those same freezing conditions. But at least the 13 competitors had no rising water levels to contend with at that point in time. After a mainly fruitless campaign so far, Spalding angler Brian Harding came up trumps at long last and held on to first place by a few ounces ahead of “Mr Consistent” Alan Houlton. Third place fell to veteran Maurice Thacker, while Ted Burks could do no better than fourth once again, a position he is quite accustomed to of late. Results: 1 Brian Harding, Bourne MG, 9lbs 7ozs; 2 Alan Houlton, Sensas Lincs County, 9lbs; 3 Maurice Thacker, Lincoln, 6lbs 10ozs; 4 Ted Burks, Lincoln, 6lbs 4ozs.

Then followed a rather damp weekend with nothing really much to choose between the two days, water conditions being obviously more favourable for Saturday anglers than the following day. Sadly nothing to report for the normal Saturday match on the River Witham as it would seem that the usual contingent had other events on their mind and none failed to appear, perhaps better luck next weekend. A similar tale from the River Steeping where just four turned up to brave the driving wind and rain and decided to call it a day and try elsewhere.

Conditions were hardly better at Spalding where practice for next week’s league match also brought a low turnout of just 33 hardy souls as opposed to the full league contingent of 96. Nevertheless the river kept its form, even though catches were mainly of small fish and Klaus Fix headed the prize list with over 470 such specimens on pole and punch. The rest of the field mainly followed suit and Chris Jenkinson, Simon Godfrey and Alistair Ogilvie filled the next three places in that order with 14ozs separating each from the other. Results: 1 Klaus Fix, Trebucco, 17lbs 12ozs; 2 Chris Jenkinson, Essex County, 15lbs 11ozs; 3 Simon Godfrey, Sensas Mark One, 14lbs 13ozs; 4 Alistair Ogilvie, Essex County, 13lbs 15ozs; 5 Barry Wigginton, Mayfair Newark, 12lbs 10ozs.

The Nags Head AC also endured a thoroughly wet day on the South Forty Foot Drain on Saturday but came away with some decent nets of roach, despite the adverse conditions. The middle areas of the section again proved the most reliable but Tom Morland showed the way home from peg 4. Paul Brocklebank ran him close from peg 8 but failed to overhaul him by a mere 4ozs, and Bill Chambers at the next peg a further 1½lbs adrift. Results: 1 Tom Morland 8lbs 10ozs; 2 Paul Brocklebank 8lbs 6ozs; 3 Bill Chambers 6lbs 14ozs; 4 Phil Kirk 6lbs 1oz; 5 Maxine Kirk 5lbs 1oz.

Despite the water running off like an express train, the river at March produced some reasonable nets of roach to the vast majority of the 65 entrants on Sunday. Pole and breadpunch was again the chosen tactic for most and here our own Steve Winter was at the forefront of the action with that very method. He took second spot behind one Mick Kelly from Stanjay Sports, just over a pound down on the winner’s weight. The remaining prizewinners also took close order as only a single pound separated 3rd from 6th, Mick Curtis being the last of the double figure weights. Results: 1 Mick Kelly, Stanjay Sports, 14lbs 4ozs; 2 Steve Winter, Browning Boston, 13lbs 2ozs; 3 Mick Asker, Sensas Mark One, 11lbs 5ozs; 4 Steve Strachan, March, 11lbs 1oz; 5 Steve Jay, Browning, 10lbs 12ozs; 6 Mick Curtis, Mark One, 10lbs 5ozs.

Fishtoft AC settled on a low and clear Frith Bank Drain where the end peg at the Tattershall Road Bridge again produced the goods, on this occasion for Nick Mummery who held on to beat Barry Hudson at the far end peg. More water and colour apparently entered the drain during a much drier and sunnier afternoon, and although pleasure fishing those that stayed on after the event were rewarded with some very good quality roach. Results: 1 Nick Mummery 7lbs 9ozs; 2 Barry Hudson 6lbs 13ozs; 3 Mick Morgan 5lbs 5ozs. Next Sunday meet Sluice Bridge 7.30am as usual.

The sixth and final match in the Rilmac League series on the Foss Dyke Canal took place on the upstream side of the Till and above the Bridge Inn at Saxilby. The Till section was by far the better as heavily coloured water affected the other part and consequently the main prize winners were all pegged around the Till mouth. Individually, Dave Ashmore drew the coveted end peg 54 on that stretch and did it full justice as he took the odd small skimmer, the rest being roach to pole and bloodworm for his winning weight. Having won a round of the Foss Dyke individual league the day before, Lincoln Whisby team captain Dave Small completed a satisfactory weekend by claiming second place here. Drawing peg 41 this time around he landed around 180 small roach to bloodworm, plus a couple of bonus perch of around two pounds apiece for that spot. Results:
1 Dave Ashmore, Lincoln Whisby AS, 8lbs 9ozs; 2 Dave Small, Lincoln Whisby AS, 8lbs 2ozs; 3 Roger Wakenshaw, Fox Elite, 6lbs 14ozs; 4 Dave Hooper, Mossborough, 6lbs 7ozs; 5 John Small, Lincoln Whisby AS, 5lbs 4ozs; 6 Jamie Osgodby, Sensas Lincs County, 5lbs 3ozs.

Newcomers to the league, Mossborough, returned a powerful performance to win this last match with 11 points to spare over their nearest rivals and duly clinched the league title – Sensas Lincs County limping home in fourth.

Result on the day: 1 Mossborough 44 pts; 2 Fox Elite 33 pts; 3 Lincoln Whisby 28 pts; 4 Sensas Lincs County 26 pts; 5 Whisby AS 19 pts.

Final league positions: 1 Mossborough 10 pts; 2 Sensas Lincs County 15 pts; 3 Lincoln Whisby 17 pts; 4 Fox Elite 20 pts; 5 Whisby AS 26 pts.

There was also keen competition for the overall individual title as three anglers, in the shape of Roger Wakenshaw, Dave Small and Dave Hooper, all tied on 27 points. On countback, however, Dave Hooper could only rely on three section wins and so took third spot. This left Dave Small and Roger Wakenshaw each with four section wins, but with aggregate weight advantage Roger clinched the title, leaving Dave Small the runner up. After the match Terry Cutter, a representative of Rilmac the sponsors of the league, congratulated the teams and individuals and presented the prizes to the winners.

Sunday February 18 will see the Lincoln Cathedral match take place on the Foss Dyke Canal at Saxilby, draw Bridge Inn 8am. Bloodworm and joker are permitted, tickets £15 all-in from Frank Butler on Lincoln 534174.

Week ending February 4

Favourite methods pays dividends for Graham

Falling temperatures over the weekend put some anglers off. But that wasn’t the case for the fish, which generally seem to carry on and feed regardless — particularly so on the River Witham at Tattershall.

There were good weights all through for the Wednesday sweep as Graham Worley at last brought home the bacon after occupying the runner-up position over the previous three weeks. His favourite whip and swimfeeder method at last paid full dividends as he took more than 12lbs of roach and perch to both worm and caster. Pole and maggot were the tactics that gave Andy Scott the second slot with Dave Bontoft in third with mainly perch to his usual pole and chopped worm approach. Results: 1 Graham Worley, Lincoln, 12lbs 12ozs; 2 Andy Scott, Spilsby, 11lbs 8ozs; 3 Dave Bontoft, Southrey, 10lbs 10ozs; 4 Ted Burks, Lincoln, 9lbs 13ozs.

On to the Kings Arms Saturday match and despite a hard frost, even higher average weights were recorded as Alan Houlton weighed in a good net of roach, perch and skimmers for a winning net of over 18lbs. Occasional visitor Steve Nurse made his presence felt this week and the Grimsby angler finished well clear of the rest taking another mixed bag totalling more than 16lbs. Both sections were won with double figure weights, lowest recorded in the match being 5lbs 5ozs. Results: 1 Alan Houlton, Sensas Lincs County, 18lbs 1oz; 2 Steve Nurse, Grimsby, 16lbs 8ozs; 3 Alan White, Lincoln, 12lbs 15ozs; 4 Rob Johnson, Spalding, 12lbs 7ozs.

A total of 22 hopefuls braved the early frosty conditions on the River Steeping at Wainfleet on Saturday and most were not disappointed with the outcome, taking a few pounds of decent roach. Continuing his run of top four finishes, in-form Bob Smith went one better than last week and struck the front this time, albeit with a very narrow victory over second placed Alec Rawlings. Third placed Mark Griggs also took close order. For the record Bob used the usual pole, pinky and groundbait method while Alec, for his part, stuck to the more traditional waggler and bronze maggot to keep Mark back in that third position. Results: 1 Bob Smith, Team Maver, 11lbs 10ozs; 2 Alec Rawlings, Wainfleet, 11lbs 7ozs; 3 Mark Griggs, Boston AA, 11lbs 2ozs; 4 John Holmes, Mansfield, 10lbs 4ozs; 5 Keith Dobson, Westwood Lakes, 9lbs 6ozs; 6 Graham Cripsey, Skegness, 7lbs 14ozs.

There wasn’t much ice around further south and plenty of hot action unfolded on the River Glen where the fourth round of the Bourne MG winter league took place on February 4. Essex County teams were already in the ascendancy and this match confirmed their status as four of the top six individual places were filled by their own squad members. Leading the charge was Chris Jenkinson who took roach from start to finish on the favoured pole, pinky and groundbait tactics, and was denied a level 16lbs for his sins by (over?) zealous weighers. Team-mate Mark Pollard was pegged up near Money Bridge and employed loose pinky at 13m for his second place. Next up was Klaus Fix who held on to third spot despite a bonus tench of around 6lbs, taken by Roger Woolhouse, ensuring him fourth spot – so denying same to our own Alistair Ogilvie in fifth.

Taking these results into account the Essex County A team ran away with the team event, leading Bourne MG A, and their own B team, by almost 20 points. Similarly with one round to go they have the league wrapped up barring some sort of miracle for the rest and here again the B team hold the runner-up spot with Wades MG A in third and EMAP Peterborough in a comfortable fourth.

Individuals: 1 Chris Jenkinson, Essex County A, 15lbs 15¾ozs; 2 Mark Pollard, Essex County A, 14lbs 7ozs; 3 Klaus Fix, Stanjay Sports, 12lbs 5ozs; 4 Roger Woolhouse, Sensas Lincs County, 11lbs 9½ozs; 5 Alistair Ogilvie, Essex County B, 10lbs 13ozs; 6 Bob Nudd, Essex County A, 10lbs 10ozs.

Teams: 1 Essex County A 15pts; equal 2 Essex County B and Bourne MG A 34pts; 4 Mark One Blue 36pts.

After four rounds: 1 Essex County A 4pts; 2 Essex County B 8pts; 3 Wades MG 12pts; 4 EMAP Peterborough 14pts; equal 5 Bourne MG A and Mark One Youth 19pts .

It was a much different story from an icy River Bain where Fishtoft AC found only small roach on the feed on Sunday morning. Having said that, Terry Gooding found a nice 2½lbs chub to clinch second spot ahead of match secretary Mark Cook and only 4ozs behind eventual winner Ernie Heseltine. Results: 1 Ernie Heseltine 4lbs 2ozs; 2 Terry Gooding 3lbs 14ozs; 3 Mark Cook 3lbs 10ozs. On Sunday February 11, meet at the Sluice Bridge at 7.30am.

For the second successive night, frost took the edge off proceedings but brought out a close contest in the fifth and penultimate round of the Rilmac League fished on the roadside stretch of the Foss Dyke Canal at Saxilby on Sunday February 4.

Individually, it was a victory for Rob Perkins who drew the coveted peg one near to the Bridge Inn and fished at three and ten metres with the pole and bloodworm. Finding the fish slow to respond, a switch to bread punch tactics brought a dramatic improvement in the catch rate, and Rob duly won the match with some ease. Second place fell to Tim Goldby who drew peg 40 near the Pike House and also used bloodworm alternated with chopped worm to take a mixed catch of perch and roach, whilst the inclusion of a bonus perch and a surprise eel helped John Blades into third spot. Results: 1 Rob Perkins, Whisby AS, 8lbs 6ozs; 2 Tim Goldby, Sensas Lincs County, 7lbs; 3 John Blades, Lincoln Whisby AS, 6lbs 4ozs; 4 Roger Wakenshaw, Fox Elite, 6lbs.

Just when you thought it was all over, the Sensas Lincs County outfit bounced back from their disastrous result the previous week to claim victory over Mossborough by a single point and Lincoln Whisby AS a further point back in third. Results: 1 Sensas Lincs County 35pts; 2 Mossborough 34pts; 3 Lincoln Whisby AS 33pts; equal 4 Whisby AS and Fox Elite 23pts. Suddenly it was too close to call for the league title as the gap between first and second is cut to two points with Sensas Lincs County now hard on the heels of leading side Mossborough. Results: 1 Mossborough 9pts; 2 Sensas Lincs County 11pts; 3 Lincoln Whisby AS 14pts; 4 Fox Elite 18pts.