WORCESTER matchman Les Sanders' unshakeable belief in his bread-punch approach to all canals was rewarded yet again with a victory on Swan AC's latest contest on the canal at Tibberton.

Milder conditions saw better weights recorded than previous weeks and Sanders' 7-7-10 was way out in front.

After an opening first hour which saw the former Worcester national squad member net a good bream along with a smaller skimmer, a steady run of small roach graced his net.

Another good slab' of around two pounds fell for his bread-punch bait in the closing minutes of the match to give Sanders a comfortable victory.

Regular towpath angler Mick Samson also started on the punch in order to net a few early roach, but an inspired mid-match change to squatt saw him net a good bream which for a while put him in front of Sanders.

However, with the lack of any more quality fish being caught in the final stages of the event, Samson was left short with a finishing total of 5-3-11 and second place on the day.

Consistent Chris Turner finished third thanks to an all-roach net of 3-5-6 taken on bread, while in fourth place was the winner of the last round at Alvechurch, James Wilson, who stays top of the league table thanks to his punch and maggot taken roach weight of 3-1-7.

Terry Howes comfortably won the Halfway House club contest, held once again on their own Church Farm Pool, with a good winter catch of chub and bream.

Presenting his maggot bait beneath a waggler set-up, Howes netted a solitary bream along with four hefty chub from peg 13 to record an easy victory with a weight of 17-12-0.

Colin Bradley also had bream but of the smaller skimmer' variety from peg 29. All of his runner-up catch of 10-8-0 came to pole fished maggot over a bed of groundbait and pellet at eleven metres.

Former Redditch national angler Glenn Butt took third place thanks to a feeder-caught all-roach weight of 8-5-0, while in fourth place came Ron Pitts with a pole caught 4-8-0.

The next Halfway AC match is on the club's Libbery Pool in two weeks time.

Fishery manager Mal Watson used his unique knowledge of Moorlands Farm to beat a top turn-out of 31 anglers for the Sunday Open held on the Bank, Moors and Silver Pools.

The Daiwa Gordon League star took 73-15-0 of carp from peg 18 on Bank Pool by using pellet bait pole-fished at 13 metres.

Runner-up was Lee Richards (Top Four) 65-12-0, with team mate Neville Groves in third place weighing in 60-6-0 to beat Worcester carp specialist Colin Bennett who was fourth with a level 46-0-0.

Wednesday's over 50s event saw Colin Pace take the honours from Middle Pool peg two with a carp and skimmer net going 60-6-0.

In second place was Tony Parker with 59-12-0 beating Derek Hopkins' third-placed weight of 49-7-0.

Prospects: All venues should be in top form this weekend. The canal has started to produce good bream catches, while on the Severn this Sunday the popular Martin Little Memorial contest takes place.

Held on the Pitchcroft, Diglis and St John's stretches of the river, the event known locally as Sid's Match', has traditionally produced good catches.

With the river in excellent shape, bream and barbel nets in particular could be superb.

Match organisers and club secretaries who would like their results published in this weekly feature should contact Alf Hand on 01905-821059 or e-mail alf.hand@btinternet.com