ANGLING: NORTHWICH AA boasted their best turn out of the season when 80 anglers turned up at the Bowling Green for the Saturday Weaver Open draw.

Later drinks were on Steve Norman, of Connah's Quay, who swept to victory from peg two at Hunt's Lock, writes JOHN STUBBS.

He used pole and caster to take 18-3-0 and all the leading weights were from the same area: Lennie Bolton (Rod & Reel) 14-2-0, Colin Fletcher (R&R) 12-5-0, Mark Addy (Drennan NW) 11-14-0, Dave Holland (11-5-0).

The Winsford Open was won by Dave's of Middlewich rod Jimmy Young, who put 10-6-0 on the scales from peg 195 to beat Ernie Ayers (Vale Royal AC) - at 192 on the Red Lion length - 9-1-0, Ray Thompson (VRAC) 8-3-0, Roy Weedall 7-5-0, Colin Abbott 7-3-0.

Young was also a winner at Rudheath-Bowling Green's Aerosol stretch match with a bag of bits, weighing 5-13-0 with places two to four being taken by Bill Bull (Dave's) 4-13-0, myself 4-10-0 and Larry Bates 4-1-0, including a 2½lb bream.

Ian Buckley, whose success often comes in Meadow bank matches, won the Winsford Flash Open with 18-8-0 off peg 54.

Nearby rivals Brent Pierpoint 14-8-0 and Terry Kettle 13-14-0 were second and third.

Meadow Bank's Saturday winner was Andy Hamlett with 6-10-0 from Norman Ellis 5-13-8, Mike Boughey 5-6-8 and Steve Lakin 5-5-8.

Ernie Ayers and Brian Sproston shared the honours at Winsford Veterans' match on the Weaver's Marina section.

They were sitting two pegs apart on 201 and 199 and pulled 9-3-0 with Colin Abbott 8-6-0, Derek Nancollis 7-1-0, Ted Walsh 5-9-0 and John Sudlow 4-11-0 completing the frame.

John Dickens won the D Anglers away match on the canal at Beeston with 4-4-0 from Peter Wakefield 2-12-0, Ted Walsh 2-3-0, Brian Dickens 1-0-0.

Two crucians weighing 4-11-13 won the day for Wayne Percival in the Barnton-Frodsham AC Brown Cup opening match at Heesom's Pool onn Sunday.

Paul Caffery 0-11-0 and Arthur Kenney 0-5-0 were next best on a difficult day.

The same venue on Wednesday resulted: Terry Middleton 6-11-6, Peter Knight 2-13-2, Barry Owen 1-15-8

Weaver Matches Winsford: Today and next Wednesday - Open, draw Marina 9.30am; Friday - D Anglers, Marina/Red Lion; Saturday - Fern Villa, Aerosol; Rifleman, Marina; Sunday - Open, draw Marina 9.30am; Tuesday - Vets, Marina/Red Lion.

Northwich: Saturday - Open, 1-70; Sunday - North Wales WL, 330-400, 425-470; Golden Lion, 401-420; Barnton-Frodsham, 251-280.