AS darkness falls earlier and earlier and the weather deteriorates, many of our local angling clubs are finishing for the season and there have been a number of postponements of scheduled winter league matches.

Rivacre AC held their last match, the Fur and Feather match on the Meadow Island stretch of the River Weaver at Winsford, on Saturday.

Windy conditions hampered competitors, but at least there was no rain for a change.

Billy Gore continued his successful season with yet another win. He took a mixed bag of 3lbs 12oz using pole and maggot for first place.

Ellesmere Port’s Maurice Parks and Harry Gittins used similar tactics and also caught a mixture of fish, weighing in with 3lbs and 2lbs 11oz respectively.

Sunday’s Wirral Winter League match was held on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal at Maghull.

The match was won by Phil Cliffe, of Team Betleys, with a final weight of 5lbs 14oz 2dr which included a 4lbs tench taken on bread.

Willaston Red team member Barry Davies ran in second with 3lbs 10oz of skimmers and roach, followed by Keith Wilson, also of Willaston Red, with a bag of 3lbs 8oz 8dr.

On the day, Willaston Red were first with Liverpool-based team Dockers Red in second.

Willaston Black struggled in sixth place on the day. Overall, after four matches, Willaston Red top the table with 139 points ahead of Dockers Red on 124. Willaston Black stay in sixth with 97 points.

Ellesmere Port’s Rod ‘n’ Reel had their North Wales Winter League match on Lake Bala postponed due to poor weather conditions. This has been rescheduled for November 23 at Hampton Springs Fishery.

An invitation is extended to anyone who would like to compete in the Brian Dobing Memorial Match on Sunday.

This will be held on the banks of the Shropshire Union Canal in Nantwich. Pegs will be drawn at 8.30am at the Rifleman Inn, Nantwich at a cost of £10.

This is a great event with 50 anglers having already signed up. For booking and further details, contact Keith Bentley on 07701029956.