WORCESTER St John's club angler Stuart Howells beat a talented line-up with a fine bag of chub to take home the coveted Alan Reynolds Memorial Trophy on the River Wye.

With the river at Fownhope and Field Farm fining down nicely after mid-week rain it was the latter that provided all the top places, but an unfancied peg towards the lower end was where the Howells recorded his first ever big match win.

After enduring a biteless opening two hours, the young angler was relieved when his blockend feeder tactics produced an excellent four pounds chub, persevering with caster bait saw another eleven good fish follow, the final and biggest chub coming just ten minutes from the end of the contest, giving Howells a total weight of 35-15-0.

Runner-up spot went to previous three times winner Stuart Harford who, as predicted, drew one above the noted "pipe" peg at the bottom of Field Farm where he also used swimfeeder tackle Harford netting six barbel up to seven pounds to finish close behind with 31-4-0.

Meanwhile third place went to another former Wye champion Matt Hamilton with an all-chub catch, taken on waggler and maggot from a peg just above the island and weighing 28-10-0.

Section winners were: A, Mark Newman 13-14-0, B; Dave Wilson 13-10-0, C; John Jefferies 9-12-0 and D; James Wilson 11-12-0.

Barbourne AC star Pete Hughes set a blistering pace when he won his club's latest contest, held on the top pool of the prolific Hawford Bridge fisheries.

Presenting worm, corn and caster at just six metres into open water, Hughes netted "ghost" carp to six pounds on his way to amassing a fantastic 84-0-0.

Way back in second was another of the club's carp experts Craig Davies with an all carp catch, taken on corn and weighing 29-0-0.

In third place was Paul Davies with 16-4-0 whilst Mick Taylor took fourth position with a carp net going 14-6-0.

The club are once again organising the popular six aside Bank's Cup match which will take place on the WDUAA section of the local canal on Sunday 3rd November. Captains wishing to enter a team should contact Graham Hill as soon as possible on 01905 24196.

Driotwich member Chris Onions got back to winning form when he took first place on the latest Swan AC match at Sixways on the canal, thanks to two big perch, together weighing 2-14-13, which accepted his caster bait offered at eight metres after a fruitless first three hours of the event.

Canal record holder Colin Davis needed just 1-0-7 of pinkie caught roach and perch to take second place whilst Worcester canal ace Mick Samson came third with a weight of 1-0-6.

Section winners were Phil Hoare and Dave Stevens, while junior winner was Matt Smith with Alex Bird runner-up.

The club aggregate league with four matches remaining puts seventeen year old Craig Bennett still in pole position with 388 points followed by Jim Collins with 368 and Mick Samson on 322.

Eckington AC held the penultimate round of this years league on the river Avon above Strensham lock where they found the river in excellent trim but alas very cold.

In first place was Lawrence Hibbs with just two bream, taken from peg 109, a peg that Hibbs thought should have been left out! which together weighed 6-15-0. Second came Tewkesbury star Pete Cole with 5-5-0 from 127 whilst Dick Safe finished in third place with 3-6-0, leaving him in an unassailable position to take this years club championship.

Moorlands Farm: Winter League round two: 1. M. Watson 87-15-0; 2. N. McKinnon 85-4-0; 3. D. James 77-11-0. Sunday Open: 1. D. James 95-5-0; 2. V. Bush 65-14-0.

PROSPECTS: Both rivers and canals could both fish well if temperatures remain high this weekend. The extra water in the Severn could encourage barbel to feed while this weekend's second round of the WDUAA winter league could see bream put in an appearance particularly on the pegs behind the football ground.