VALE Royal Angling Club go into the penultimate fixture of the Northwich Winter League as leaders following Sunday's match on a swollen and fast River Weaver which still fished well, writes JOHN STUBBS.

The winner was Protack Barlow's man Kevin Brooks who was drawn on peg 40 on the boats, used tip and feeder, found six bream and a few bits and weighed in 18-8-0.

Terry Kettle led a strong Rudheath Social Club effort in second place with 15-2-0 from a spot near Vale Royal arches.

Anthony King (PB) 12-5-0 and Matthew Brown (Dave's of Middlewich) 10-12-0 were placed.

Brooks and King saw to it that Protack topped the points, with 41, with Dave's 40, Rudheath 36 and Vale Royal and Edgley both with 32.

Vale Royal are still in charge with 147 pts to Lymm 139, Edgeley 137 and Protack Barlow's 126.

The previous day only 10 rods were attracted to the Weaver for the Northwich Open, which was won by Simon Wilkinson 8-14-0 with Wayne Percival 2-6-8, second.

The Meadow Bank Open ended Sam Egerton 12-0-0, Dave Booth 9-8-0 and Andy Hanmlett 7-3-0.

Conditions were no better in midweek but even so Winsford Veterans put on a good competition - for those that caught. Some did struggle for a bite, but that did not worry Ian Shaw who took 29-7-0 of bream and skimmers on feeder to win the Red Lion section from Eric Gillett, 18-0-0 off the same method and Alec Walton 15-3-0.

Top rod on the Marina was Ted Isherwood 21-15-0 (also on the tip), who held off Kevin Ashurst 17-2-0 and Cliffe Bratt 9-12-0.

Barry Owen returned to winning ways in Barnton and Frodsham AC's regular Wednesday match on Heesom's Pool.

Fishing maggot and worm on the pole at 11 metres from peg 10, Owen weighed in 7-5-0 of roach and skimmers to claim the win. In the frame were Chris Hargadon 5-14-0 and Steve Furfie and Terry Middleton 5-1-0

Furfie improved on this performance as he went home with the top pay out from the Saturday match. Again, the venue was Heesom's Pool and he fished squatt and pinkie at 12 metres from end-peg 54 for 4-4-0 of roach and perch.

Mike Appleton 3-12-8 edged second place by three drams from Middleton, with roach prominent for both.

The opening Scott's Shield fixture was on the dredger length of a coloured Weaver on Sunday. Wind and rain made things double difficult but Steve Walker did best taking the maximum points on offer as he landed 4lb bream, plus skimmers, to register 5-13-5 altogether. All of his fish were taken on the tip rod with maggot and worm on the hook.

Appleton 4-1-11 was again second and Peter Moore 1-13-0 third.

Weaver Matches

Winsford: Today and next Wednesday - Open, Marina & Red Lion; Saturday - Rake & Pikel, Red Lion; Prince's Feathers, Marina; Wirral, Meadow Island; Meadow Bank Open; Sunday - Winsford AA, Marina & Red Lion; Tuesday - Veterans, Red Lion & Marina.

Northwich: Saturday - Open, 353-382.