THE third round of the WDUAA winter league proved much harder than previous encounter, for while the top four anglers recorded creditable weights most competitors found the match a struggle for bites.

Heading a close individual list was Droitwich Mosella team man Rob Francis who recorded a level six pounds from peg 34 at the top of Perdiswell.

Starting mid canal with chopped worm bait, Francis took three chub along with a big perch and roach in the opening two hours of the match before bites dried up.

A change of approach to breadpunch presented across at 12 metres resulted in him adding around 40 small roach to his net during the remainder of the contest, providing Francis with his first win of the series.

Runner up was Worcester Match Group White member Graham Goodyear who fed hempseed in the deeper water on peg 39. Offering his single caster bait in the 'track' saw Goodyear take an excellent chub of two pounds after just 20 minutes, a long wait ensued before a further two chub were taken towards the end of the match giving him a final total of 5-8-7.

Third place went to towpath regular Dick Blight (Silver Fox) who fished in his own inimitable style on peg 48. After a fruitless opening 30 minutes on the bread flake, three perch and two chub responded to his heavily fed yellow maggots almost immediately, unfortunately this proved to be the end of the action for Blight who ended the day with figures of 5-5-8.

Taking the final place was Nick Doherty (Presidents) who was drawn adjacent to the winner on peg 35. Two chub and three perch together weighing 5-3-0 were enough for Doherty to finish in fourth spot, all his fish coming to caster bait offered on the pole at nine metres.

Team sheet on the day was headed by the talented Worcester Match Group Blue squad who recorded just 19 penalty points. Previous round winners Good Intent were relegated to second place with 21 points followed by Bait box on 27.

The league after three rounds sees Good Intent and WMG Blue running away with the series with the Kidderminster outfit just in front recording 61 points while WMG have 63 and way back in third are Phoenix with 87.

The next round is in two weeks on Sunday, November 25.

Portobello members also found conditions difficult, with their pool at Rushwick clear and full of leaves.

Upsetting the form book was Dean Jameson who had to wait until the final hour of the contest before netting two carp from peg four, successful tactics were pole fished white maggot across to the island.

Veteran angler Ivor Taylor was second with three meat caught carp together weighing 3-8-0 taken off peg 10. Close behind in third was Gary Brixton with an all small fish net of 3-2-0 and fourth club star Nic Hill with one first cast carp weighing 2-6-8.

Saturday's Moorlands Farm winter series gave Fosters Tipton star Kerion Rich his first major success in a long while at the venue.

With the match spread over three pools, Meadow, Moors and Bank it was the former that produced all the leading weights. Drawn on peg nine, the former Tricast sponsored angler used a waggler and white maggot combination mid pool to take an all carp net of 102-12-0.

Second was Mick Henshall (Fosters Elite) who fished in similar style to the winner on noted peg 59 recording 82-4-0. Bristol's Lee Nutland was third weighing 65-5-0 while Paul Foster (Wessons) came fourth with 43-10-0. Best team on the day was Wessons with 56, second were Mosella SW with 53 and third Lifestyle Blue on 48. After three rounds Lifestyle Blue are still top with 45 points followed by Fosters Elite with 43 and Fosters Gold 40.

Tomorrow, if river conditions allow, WDUAA are holding an impromptu open match at Pitchcroft for local anglers. Draw will be at the top car park at 9am, pools will cost £10. Also there will be the usual canal open on Sunday. Draw 8am at the Cavalier pub.

Prospects: This weekends Alans Tackle fur and feather at Brockamin will probably be dominated by the feeder, but anglers drawn near to the islands should consider the waggler if conditions allow. The rearranged Wye championships will also be a feeder match with big weights expected.