A SPIRITED performance by previous year's winners Devizes Talisman put them just half a point behind winners Drake's Bait in the final round of the Upper Thames Division of the Angling Times League.

It was a very tight affair on the Kennet and Avon Canal at Bedwyn on Sunday and a good ending to the series.

Daiwa Swindon's Gary Etheridge followed his win in the previous round by again winning with over 300 small roach weighing 7-5-0 using squatts as bait presented with a six metre whip and fishing in mid-water.

Nor far behind was fellow team member Gary Laidler. He used an 11 metre pole to take 7-1-8 of small roach using squatt and groundbait tactics.

There was a tie for third spot between Drake's Bait's Steve Hunt and Anthony Jones (Devizes Talisman) both anglers catching plenty of roach in their 6-2-0 catches. Steve used a five metre pole with squatts/pinkies and groundbait and Anthony took 280 roach on a nine metre whip using squatt and groundbait.

It was also tight for the top individual in the series with Graham Godwin (Turners) having a great series after winning one of the rounds with 44lb of bream. He fished well throughout to win with 52 points, ahead of Jim Bone (Team Daiwa) 51 points and Dave Russell was third on 50 points for Devizes Talisman.

Sections

A: 1st S Trimby (Daiwa) 5-0-8; 2nd K Holmes (Reading) 4-2-0.

B: 1st G Godwin (Turners) 5-7-0; 2nd P Stansfield (Talisman) 5-3-8.

C: 1st D Russell (Talisman) 5-6-0; 2nd D Wilson (Turners) 3-3-0.

D: 1st (equal) D Scott (Cotswold) 4-4-0; S Liston (Daiwa) 4-4-0.

E: 1st M Jones (Talisman) 5-0-0; 2nd G Herman (Drake's) 4-3-8.

F: 1st P Hitchman (Turners) 4-1-0; 2nd M Bohane (Talisman) 3-14-0.

G: 1st R Russell (Cotswold) 4-11-8; 2nd D Wright (Drakes) 4-2-0.

H: 1st J Bone (Daiwa) 5-5-0; 2nd B Bathe (Isis) 4-15-0.

J: 1st G Etheridge (Daiwa) 7-5-0; 2nd A Jones (Talisman) 6-2-0.

K: 1st G Laidler (Daiwa) 7-1-8; 2nd G Bayliss (Talisman) 5-6-0.

L: 1st R Tomala (Elgin) 4-7-8; 2nd R Stephens (Talisman) 3-14-0.

M: 1st S Hunt (Drake's) 6-2-0; 2nd P Scott (Team Daiwa) 5-11-0.

Teams on the Day

1. Devizes Talisman 98pts; 2. Team Daiwa 91.5; 3. Cotswold 83.5; 4. Turner T & B 82; 5. Drakes Bait 82; 6. Reading MC 65.5; 7. Swindon Isis 55; 8. Elgin 49.5; 9. New Century 39.

Final Team Placings

1. Drakes Bait 483pts; 2. Devizes Talisman 482.5; 3. Team Daiwa 469.5; 4. Turners T & B 467.5; 5. Cotswold Angling 441.5; 6. Reading MG 404.5; 7. Elgin 330; 8. Swindon Isis 320; 9. New Century 292.5; 10. Swindon Royals 193.

The top two teams go through to the semi-finals.