SEVENTEEN-year-old Andy Collins proved once again that he can hold his own against more senior opposition when he won the WDUAA Thursday evening open, held on the canal between the Cavalier pub and Lansdowne bridge.

A regular money winner on the club circuit, the Swan AC member earned the respect of his peers when he took a winning weight of 4-1-4 from peg 142 above the 'slabs'.

Starting with pinkie bait presented across towards the brambles at 11 metres, Collins landed a two pound bream early in the three-hour event.

A change to hempseed offered on the same line saw the young star net six roach for an excellent victory.

Runner-up was well travelled matchman Mick Samson (Greenman) whose 3-3-9 catch consisted of all roach taken on hempseed in the dying stages of the match from peg 151 above the bridge.

Making a return to the open match scene with a third placed 2-15-0 was former Worcester national angler Brian Wood, who proved that he has not forgotten the game by landing a good eel along with a few roach from the deeper water on peg 134, maggot being the effective bait.

In fourth spot was Phoenix 'Godfather' Nigel Harvey with a mostly roach catch of 2-4-9.

WDUAA stage an open match on Sunday to support the Association's national squad. Draw is at 8.30 am with fishing from 10am-3pm. Details from Gary Summers on 01905-451761.

n Worcester engineer Wayne Parkins dominated proceedings to win the first Portobello contest of the new term when he took 14-4-0 from a difficult Ockeridge pool.

Successfully landing two carp and a bream on pole fished luncheon meat gave Parkins the verdict over young club star Billy Hill whose 6-2-0 of bream and ide was good enough for second place.

In third position was southern exile Ron Eagle with an unusual all ide net of 5-4-0 which fell for his pole and caster offering, while Mark Tomlinson finished fourth with a level four pounds of small fish.

n Hempseed wizard Gary Owen pinned his faith again in his favourite bait to win the latest Swan AC club match held on the Staffordshire/ Worcestershire canal at Hinksford.

After netting a few small fish on squatt and pinkie, Owen soon turned his attention to his hemp swim where the Kidderminster star soon had the roach queuing up, finishing just clear of a talented turn out with a weight of 6-0-0.

Second place, weighing in with 5-13-3, was former AFS towpath expert Paul Bick who netted gudgeon, perch and silver fish on groundbait and squatt before taking a few good roach from the track on maggot.

In third position was another canal specialist Fred Bedford who used small baits to attract an all roach net of 3-7-7 while Mick Samson used caster in the centre channel to weigh in with a fourth placed 2-14-8.

Club league after 13 rounds sees Jim Collins still top on 266 points with Craig Bennett second on 238.

n Droitwich Angling Centre held an open match on Pitchcroft where Harris MG angler John Maloney surprised everyone by taking an excellent three hour weight of 12-11-0.

Casting his open end feeder rig mid river on peg 1, Maloney was amazed to land a four pound bream on only his second cast, this was quickly followed by another three 'slabs' before disaster struck and he went on to loose six good fish at the net!

Second was Phoenix river specialist Alf Hand with an all bleak catch of 7-5-0 and third came Dick Blight (Bushy Tops) with a float caught weight of 5-4-0.

n Results: Moorlands Farm -- Saturday Summer League (4th round) 1 L. Richards 45-2-0, 2 S. Pickup 44-4-0, 3 I. Lockley 40-1-0.

Teams: 1 Fosters 25pts, 2 Mosella 25pts. League: 1 Mosella 14pts, 2 Top Four 18pts. Sunday Open -- 1 A. Newton 63-11-0, 2) D. Cox 36-5-0.