IN a match dominated by roach catches a net of bream topped Sunday's 89-entry penultimate round of the Acomb Tackle-backed York and District Winter Angling League.

In one of the best contests for a number of seasons the Ouse below York burst into life as good river levels and mild conditions were to the liking of the fish.

John Milner (Bishopthorpe and Acaster) fished from a peg below the sand bed in the Donkey Woods, where he used a caster feeder with worm and red maggot for three bream plus some roach, winning comfortably with 14lb 4oz.

Top of the numerous all roach bags was Rod Chalk (Bar-Six), who fished stick and caster above the rocky culvert for his level 8lb. Dave Collinson (Acomb Tackle) was third from the peg above the sand bed to complete a Donkey Woods 1-2-3. He used pole and alternated maggot and caster for 7lb 4oz of roach and perch.

Others: Kev Ellaby (Acomb Tackle) 6-13-0, Mick Potter (Barlby Village Stores) 6-8-0 and Brian Richardson (Cochranes) 5-13-0.

Teams: Bishopthorpe and Acaster 26-6-0, Acomb Tackle 21-14-0, Cochranes 19-14-0, Barlby Village Stores 19-12-0, Waterline Wibsey 18-2-8 and Bar-Six 17-11-0.

League: Barlby Village Stores 67, Acomb Tackle 61, Waterline Wibsey and South Bank both 57.

Horseshoe Lake at Raker was in top form again on Sunday, with the lake's carp on another feeding frenzy.

Neil Horne led the bag-up from 'hot' peg 22. Offering pole and corn at 16 metres he hauled out a whopping 88lb 15oz of carp to 4lb.

Youngster Danny Scott again showed his class, with another carp net of 67lb 5oz taken on corn at 19 metres from peg 11.

Third place went to his Team Gem colleague, another junior, Gareth Sellars, taking 52lb 12oz to the scales.

York-based big-weight specialist Steve Hodson (RSPS Tekneek Trabucco) struck again on the Ure at Ripon, winning Sunday's 69-entry contest with a cracking net of 78lb 7oz.

Drawn opposite the chalets above North Bridge he fished caster to the far-bank willows and after a slow start caught chub steadily, finishing with 24 fish. Steve Hoggins (Newcastle) was drawn above the cages, where he used waggler and maggot for another good chub haul.

In a hectic final two hours he hailed in 13 chub and four grayling for his 37lb 10oz.

Others: Dave Robson (Kippax Tackle Box) 26-5-0, Ian Lumb (Turners Tackle) 25-3-0, Keith Appleton (Ripon) 23-8-0 and Nick Smith (Airborough) 20-0-0.

Anglers practising for the Winter League semi-final dominated Sunday's 80-peg roach packed match on the Ouse between Hunters Lodge and Linton. Keith Hobson (Maver Barnsley) led the South Yorkshire charge from famed bream peg 220 at the bungalows.

After an early 3lb fish he added some roach on caster feeder before a last cast 5lb slab made the decisive difference pushing him on to 11lb 10oz.

Team-mate and three-times world champion Alan Scotthorne (Maver Barnsley) was at 227, where he used the long rod and maggot for an all roach 9-15-0.

Others: Tony Peel (Maver Barnsley) 9-10-0, Pete Barron (Middy Dons) 9-7-0, Kevin Richmond (Maver Barnsley) 8-9-0 and Ian Bates (Hirst Tackle) 8-1-0

With the Ouse between Aldwark and Linton back to normal level after the recent flooding, roach were to the fore in Saturday's 70-peg match. Eddie Bridon (Shimano Quaker Match Group) led from peg 279 above the paddock at Linton.

After a fruitless quest for chub he switched to the long rod and bolo float with maggot and never looked back. His winning net of 13lb 3oz included 80 roach to a pound.

Ron Wilkinsin (Newman Scotts) completed a good day for anglers from the North-East, coming second from 229 at Hunters Lodge. Attacking the middle of the river with a long rod and big stick he bagged 9lb 5oz of roach.

Others: Tony Wood (Maver Barnsley) 8-10-0, Steve Clegg (Saints) and Gordon Smith (Worksop) both 6-11-0, Norman Thewliss (Hirst Tackle) and Andy Miller (Waterline Wibsey) both 6-8-0.

Updated: 10:32 Wednesday, February 18, 2004