ROD 'n' Reel have been promoted to next season's National Federation of Anglers Division One, writes Brian Roberts.

The Ellesmere Port club secured their escape from Division Two in last weekend's match on the Foss Dyke and Chesterfield Canal.

Top rod Tony Dean found himself on the dyke and took skimmers and roach weighing 2.6kg. Phil Davies brought in 1.8kg of roach from the canal and Mel Jenkins produced 1.7kg of roach, leaving Rod eighth out of 46 on the day, enough to see them through.

Steve Andrews won Ellesmere Port British Legion AC's match at Milton Green Fishery. Taking 33-12-0 of carp, he saw off Barry Hawkswood with 20-8-0 and Steve Bithell with 20-1-0.

George Edwards went home a winner from Lobol AC's match at Lingmere Fishery after collecting a carp-based 31-1-0 catch to beat Peter Cooke's 24-12-0 of skimmers and Sid Robinson's 17-15-0 of chub.

Bert Clarkson, of Great Sutton, visited Cheshire Fishery and claimed 70-0-0 of carp taken to floating bread crust or luncheon meat.

Members of Rivacre AC enjoyed a weekend casting their lines at Thirsk. At the Woodland's Fishery, Peter Walsh netted 42-2-0 of carp for victory in the Saturday match. Jason Connah ended with 42-0-0 and Bob Thelwell 40-0-0.

On Sunday, Luke Walker threw 37-6-0 of carp on the scales to claim the win. Steven Boyle had 28-8-0 while Bob Thelwell and Dave Grimes shared third with 20-8-0.

Ellesmere Port members continued their season-long domination of the Chester and Ellesmere Port AC matches at Meadowview Fishery, where Mark Greasley took a carp catch of 37-12-0, putting him ahead of Alan Roberts with 35-0-0 and John Booth with 27-4-0.

Kevin Dickson, of Ellesmere Port, struck lucky at Meadow Fishery when he caught a 6-0-0 rainbow to a buzzer.

Neston's Mark Jones made a worthwhile visit to Burton Mere Fishery as he pulled out a 19-0-0 carp to a halibut pellet.

Willaston AC's team put in a good performance in the Stapeley, Crewe and District Summer League at the Rookery Bridge length of the Trent and Mersey Canal. They ended the day in sixth but still remain in the bottom half of the league. Their star performers were Keith Wilson, who finished second in the match with 11-4-0, Ray Jackson with 2-3-12 and Gordon Griffiths with 1-15-0.

Ellesmere Port members of Chester Tackle Locker did enough for the club to become favourites for the title with Phil Weaver taking 4-5-6, Mike Beaumont 2-10-12 and Neil Faulkner 2-10-4.

Steve Balson was the victor in the Thursday match at Lingmere Fishery. A mixed 46-8-0 put him ahead of Bob Evans with 27-8-0 and Dave Lawrence with 25-0-0.

Lingmere's Saturday match went to Alan Dewhurst, who reeled in a carp-based 78-0-0 to overshadow Steve Boyd's 40-4-0 and Steve Balson's 32-2-0.

Rob Denny, of Ellesmere Port, took top honours in the Hampton Springs Fishery open match. Drawn on the meadow pool, he took mainly barbel for 65-0-0.