FISH catches as well as the temperatures plummeted as the freezing conditions took its toll in last Sunday's Royal Ashton Winter League match on Rumworth Reservoir.

Twenty five competitors attended the fifth match of the series but only the bits showed.

Kevin Lever fished red maggot on the tip and although taking a lot of fish they could only tip the scales to 1lb-15ozs, but this was enough to take the match.

Three shared the second place with Martin Thompson, Mick Whelan and Paul Swift all catching 1lb-7ozs. Frank Entwistle was fifth with 1lb-6ozs and Gordon Hardman sixth with 1lb-5ozs. They hope for a warmer match next Sunday.

qFIFTEEN anglers attended last week's Sunday Open on Doe Hey's Bottom Water and once again Worsley Angling Centre's Bob Fearnhead took the honours with 4lbs-5ozs. This included a 1lb-8ozs perch along with bits all caught on the pole.

Paul Ayres was second when the Rochdale GTI angler weghed in an all bit bag of 2lbs-14ozs. Third was guest G. Marsden who returned 2lbs-0ozs. The sections went to Pete Fletcher (1-11-0) and John Turton (1-14-0).

Bob also won the Wednesday Open with 5-11-0 with Roland Stansfield second with 4-3-0 while Alan McAtee finished third with 3-15-0.

Another Open Match takes place next week on Doe Heys Top Water. Ring Bob Fearnhead on 0161 799 4242.