TEAM Daiwa, after a poor start on the rivers, chalked up a runners-up spot on the canal on Sunday in the penultimate round of the Thames Division of the Angling Times League.

With the final match this Sunday also on the canal, they are pushing Devizes Talisman and Turners Tackle Bait for the runners-up spot but Drakes Bait, who have a 15 1/2 point cushion at the top, must be favourites to take the title.

Stars on Sunday were Cotswold who accumulated a fine 101 1/2 point total ahead of Team Daiwa's total of 95pts.

Gary Etheridge, now fishing for Team Daiwa, headed a string of close weights with a mainly roach bag that included a match winning skimmer that weighed 1 1/2 lb in a nice bag of 6-14-0 taken on an 8 metres pole using squatts as bait.

Mick Fordsham (Reading MG) just fell short of taking second place with 168 roach taken on a 9 metre pole using pinkie and squatt for his 6-10-8 catch.

Third was Barry Grubb of Drakes Baits. He took 183 roach again using a 9 metre pole for a 6-4-0 bag.

Others: Bruce Murtough (Cotswold) 6-1-8 and Steve Trimby (team Daiwa) 5-14-0.

Sections

A: 1, B Murtough (Cotswold) 5-1-8; 2, S Trimby (T/Daiwa) 5-14-0.

B: 1, M Fordham (Reading) 6-10-8; 2, B Grubb (Drakes) 6-4-0.

C: 1, J Bone (T/Daiwa) 4-5-0; 2, M Licheta (N Century) 3-5-0.

D: 1, D Young (Cotswold) 4-15-0; 2, S Rich (T Daiwa) 4-6-8.

E: 1, G Etheridge (T/Daiwa) 6-14-0; 2, G Davis (Cotswold) 4-13-8.

F: 1, G Horman (Drakes) 5-12-0; 2, D Pearce (Cotswold) 3-14-0.

G: 1, D Scott (Cotswold) 1-11-0; P Scott (T/Daiwa) 1-10-0.

H: 1, D Richardson (Cotswold) 2-3-0; 2, M Johnson (Reading) 1-11-0.

J: 1, N Richards (Talisman) 2-6-0; 2, V Grillo (Isis) 1-2-0.

K: 1, S Liston (T/Daiwa) 2-13-0; 2, P Stanfield (Talisman) 2-11-0.

L: 1, L Bowen (Cotswold) 1-11-8; 2, A Dixey (Elgin) 1-6-8.

H: 1, S Baton (T/Daiwa) 2-10-0; 2, P Hayes (Turner) 2-3-0.

Teams on the day: 1, Cotswold 101 1/2 pts; 2, Team Daiwa 95; 3, Drakes Bait 72 1/2; 4, Devizes Talisman 72; 5, Turners T & B 71 1/2; 6, Reading MG 69; 7, Elgin 61; 8, Isis 57 1/2; 9, New Century 49.

Teams overall with one match to fish: 1, Drakes Bait 401 pts; 2, Turners T&B 385 1/2; 3, Devizes Talisman 384 1/2; 4, Team Daiwa 378; 5, Cotswold Angling 358; 6, Reading MG 339; 7, Team Elgin 280 1/2; 8, Isis 254; 9, New Century 253 1/2; 10, Swindon Royals 193.

RESULTS ROUND-UP

Cloverleaf match at Rode Ashton: 1, Fred Brown 18-8-0 carp; 2, Nick Cheeseman 17-4-0; 3, Bob Fletcher 16-8-0.

Weights were very close at South Cerney's Wick Water for the Wednesday Veterans match. Richard Wallis got the verdict with 11-5-0 just ahead of Graham Rose 11-4-0 and Richard Clark was third with 10-13-0.

The final leg of the three counties six a side at Froxfield was won by Peatmoor Red with 26 points. Runners up with 22 points were Peatmoor Blue and in third place with 15 points were Newbury A.

Top individuals with 3lb 6oz was Ricky Halliday of Peatmoor Blue runner-up with 2lb 11oz was Stephen Howard of Peatmoor Blue. And in third place with 2lb 2oz (97 fish) was William Bryant of Peatmoor Red. Fourth place went to Jeb Martin of Peatmoor Red with 2lb 1oz.

In the Lawns AC match Terry Bohane took the top spot with 4-12-0 ahead of L Uzzell 3-0-0 and Dale Sole who was third with 2lb.

Ivy House lakes results Wednesday: 1, Mo Lowes (peg 39) 51-8-0; 2, Elick Payne (peg 47) 41-14-0; 3, Pete Sole (peg 46) 16-8-0.

Friday Veterans match: 1, Tony Menham (peg 47) 18-4-0; 2, Graham Rose (peg 33) 17-0-0; 3, Barry Jee (peg 49) 15-6-0.

Saturday Open (please note 9am draw in future): 1, Bob Keeping (peg 45) 49lb; 2, Ricky Spiteri (peg 42) 19-4-0; 3, Trevor Wyse (peg 41) 10lb.