SWINDON Talisman came out best in the final round of Upper Thames Division of the Angling Times League.

The match was again organised on the Kennet and Avon Canal in and around Great Bedwyn and generally fished hard. One point ahead at the top before the match, Talisman won again for a three-point cushion and another league top position.

With the fancied Devizes-Megabait falling again, this time fifth on the day, this let in a delighted Team Daiwa side who finished in runners-up spot, not only in the league but also on the day.

Devizes-Megabait did have the consolation of supplying the top angler on the day Kevin Abigail. Pegged on the best stretch of the day the Competition Reach he took 8-12-0 of roach using caster and squatt.

He was pushed all the way by Team Daiwa angler Gary Etheridge who was pegged in the same section. Gary took a roach and perch catch fishing at 10 metres using a mixture of bread feed with pinkies and loose fed squatt.

Weights were closer from there on, with Tony Tibble (Reading MG) third with a roach/perch catch of 7-15-0, followed by Lyndon Bowen (Cotswold) 7-2-0 and D Wright (Drakes) 6-15-8.

Sections

A 1 M Olden (Devizes) 3-15-8, 2 B Black (Thatcham) 3-8-8. B 1 M Craigs (Drakes) 1-14-0, S Corbett (Elgin) 1-14-0. C 1 P Hitchman (Turners) 0-6-8, 2 J Bohane (Talisman) 0-4-8. D 1 D Wright (Drakes) 6-15-8, 2 M Lane (Daiwa) 4-6-0. E 1 M Jones (Talisman) 6-9-8, 2 S Stacey (Devizes) 4-15-0. F 1 S Trimby (Daiwa) 3-1-8, 2 B Winter (Turners) 2-9-8. G 1 V Grillo (Isis) 5-5-0, 2 G Laidler (Daiwa) 4-6-0. H 1 P Stansfield (Talisman) 2-7-8, 2 S Grainger (Thatcham) 2-5-0. J 1 K Abigail (Devizes) 8-12-0, 2 G Etheridge (Daiwa) 8-1-0. K 1 T Tibble (Reading) 7-15-0, 2 J Bode (Daiwa) 5-14-0.

Points were close for the top anglers over the series with Steve Hunt of Drakes Baits 57 points, winning just ahead of Gary Laidler (Team Daiwa) 56 points and Nigel Franks (Devizes-Megabaits) was third with 55 points.

Team on the Day: 1 Swindon Talisman 86pts; 2 Team Daiwa 75.5; 3 Cotswold 68; 4 Turner T & Bait 66.5; 5 Devizes-Megabait 66; 6 Thatcham AC 59; 7 Drakes Baits 56.5; 8 Elgin 51; 9 Reading 48; 10 Isis AC 36; 11 Gorse Hill WMC 24.5.

Team Overall (Agg, Pos, Points): 1 Swindon Talisman 14 pts; 2 Team Daiwa 17; 3 Devizes-Megabaits; 4 Cotswold 25; 5 Turners T & Bait 30; 6 Thatcham AC 40; 7 Elgin 42; 8 Drakes Bait 44; 9 Reading MG 45; 10 Swindon Isis 59; 11 Gorse Hill WMC 60.

n The Peatmoor Junior Christmas match was won by Dan Gould with 3-11-0, runner-up with 3-8-0 was Martyn Howard and in third place with 3-7-0 was Edward Bryant. In fourth place with 2-7-5 was Gareth Jackson.

The Peatmoor A team of Jeb Martin, Dan Gould, Kyle Nicholls, William Bryant and Gareth Jackson won the Stratford on Avon Junior team Championship for the second year in a row. Laurie Nicholls of Peatmoor B was individual runner-up with 2-15-0.

n Brian Bathe easily won the Wednesday Veterans midweek match on Marlborough's trout reach with a 6-8-0 catch, well ahead of Fred Brown 2-14-0 and Mick Robins 2-12-0.

Ivy House Lake match results

Wednesday November 28: 1 Elick Payne (peg 12) 31-10-0; 2 Pete Byrnes (peg 16) 25-14-0; 3 Simon Collins (peg 23) 21-7-0.

Friday Veterans: 1 Derek Hilliar (peg 24) 10-0-0; 2 Tony Read (peg 10) 8-12-0; 3 Don Chapman (peg 22) 8-0-0.

Saturday, December 1: 1 Paul Connor (peg 41) 44-8-0; 2 Simon Jones (peg 24) 28-8-0; 3 Dave Smith (peg 44) 27-8-0; 4 Richard Baston (peg 11) 25-8-0.