Newman Scott Blue made no mistakes during the 6th and final round of the North-East Winter League winning on the day to guarantee the prestigious local team title and now go forward to the Northern Semi-Final on the River Wear, writes JEFF HERBERT.

The lower Tees match length split between Yarm and Bowesfield fished hard following frosts and extra water was always going to check weights.

Nigel Rance of Darlington Angling Centre emerged top man on a difficult day returning 8.9.8 off permanent peg 12 on the Bowesfield section.

Working groundbait feeder and redworm on the hook 3 good skimmer bream put him firmly on the road adding 15 roach to beat the 120 strong field.

Best of Newman Scott Blue's came Mr consistent himself Dave Smiddy whose second place catch took the scales to 7.12.8.

On Fisheries Bend below Yarm Dave took a couple of chub on the bomb and bread across while roach and dace down the middle on feeder and maggot made up the bulk of his net from peg 137.

Overall league individual crown went to Darlington Angling Centre Skipper Peter Close who has made his mark throughout the region during a terrific 2001. Peter scored a super 68 points from a maximum 72.

Top three teams on the day: 1st Newman Scott Blue 93 pts; 2nd Darlington AC 88; 3rd Newman Scott Red 80.

Final table: 1st Newman Scott Blue 10 pts; 2nd Darlington AC 13; 3rd Cleveland Angling Centre 15; 4th Yarm Flynns 33; 5th Newman Scott Red 35; 6th Dick Clegg Metro 40; 7th Yarm AA 41; 8th Stokesley 47; 9th Northallerton AC 51; 10th Billingham Tackle Box 53; 11th Dunelm 55; 12th DBT 61.

Chub decided Thornaby AA's Xmas Cheer on a cold middle Tees between Croft and Hurworth a foot up and dropping.

Darlington's Dave Nicholson above the Plantation fence at Croft searched farside cover on feeder and bread netting ten chub for a winning 14.10.0.

Fellow rod John Whitehouse three pegs downstream in the willows adopted identical tactics catching ten smaller samples totalling 10.3.0.

Others in the frame: Joe Longstaffe (Thornaby) 6.5.0; Andy Simpson (Quaker Tackle) 5.9.0.

Match fishing finally got underway on the famous Over Dinsdale Estate waters and there was an unexpected surprise during the Northgate Xmas Cheer bash. Staged on the top length Darlington's Steve Brennan landed a massive Tees barbel of 8.2.0 which fell to stickfloat and maggot tactics. Drawn on peg 21 the run off above red rock feeder and bread also brought nine chub for a runaway 25.10.0.

It proved hard going on the Ouse below York for the 98 hopefuls during the York & District Xmas Cheer. Icy cold conditions tested the festive spirit and Nigel Baker of Anglers Corner made his four bites count from peg seven in the pumping station field at Fulford.

Opting for groundbait feeder and caster with worm on the hook Nigel landed a bream a skimmer a perch an eel for the spoils.

Union's Bill Collier fishing the palace bend also utilised feeder and worm taking a mixture of skimmer bream and 'Tommy ruffe' for 5.2.0.

Further upstream at Hunters Lodge, Thorpe Underwood, and Widdington the Ouse was pushing through even faster as extra water from the nearby Swale and Ure increased the flow during the Leeds 80 peg sellout Xmas match.

The deep pegs in the top field at Thorpe Underwood was the place to draw.

Lady angler Barbara Jeffries of Armley showed the lads the way home recording 7.6.0.

Sat on peg ten Barbara skilfully tempted 30 roach up to 10zs swapping between bomb and pole at ten metres on the maggot.

Next best Albert Hall of Poole on peg 3 in the big slack laid on with the stickfloat and maggot and secured a welcome bream of 5.8.0 from Tommy Pitts Marsh Tackle 4.7.0.

The Nidd hosted two events on Sunday and grayling featured during Knaresborough Piscatorials Fur and Feather.

RSPS stalwart Mick Hare stormed ahead netting an all grayling bag of 10.9.0.

Drawn below the Oak tree peg below the Sawmills weir Mick edged the stickfloat and maggot through collecting 30 fish up to the pound mark followed by Knaresborough's Richard and Brian Sowerby with 8.5.0 & 8.3.0 respectively.

In contrast on the lower reaches at Cowthorpe chub were the order of the day. Much to everyone's surprise Bradford's Pete Vickerman on unfancied peg 40 lifted the Daily Mirror Cup 4 swims below the gauging station to return 12.2.0.

The open but steadier swim was attacked down the middle as a patient approach on waggler and maggot coaxed 5 chub at intervals.

While Geoff Cox legering lobworm tail off peg 45 below the gas pipe relied on four for 7.5.0.

Other results - Richmond AS Xmas Cheer Upper Swale: 1st Phillip McEwan 7.15.0 all grayling stickfloat and maggot; 2nd Andy Jones 6.3.0; 3rd Peter Bennett 5.4.0.

Black Ox F & F Swale Scruton: 1st Ron Jacques 7.2.0 2 chub legered maggot; 2nd Phil Young 6.10.0; 3rd John Batty 4.8.0.

Carp Scene

At the Woodlands complex Damien Bracken of Trevs Wilmslow beat Saturday's 77 rods with 40.12.0 of mainly small carp on the maggot feeder from 'form' peg 24 on Skylark Lake.

The match was won in the closing stages when Damien added several fish in a late match burst creating a safe gap from the rest.

For Peter Costello of Middleton Angling he still managed to deliver the goods despite drawing unfanced peg 28 on Partridge and weighed in 31.14.0 of carp barbel tench and ide on the feeder and maggot edging out on-site tackle dealer Alan Gregory 30.15.0.

Woodland Lakes midweeker - Curlew Kestrel Partridge Skylark & Wagtail: 1st R Singh (Elton Tackle) 58.3.0 all carp Wagtail seven maggot feeder pole & corn; 2nd C Kent (Langley Park) 39.6.0 3 D Taylor (Map Elton) 37.6.0 Sunday' Open (55 pegs).

Curlew Kestrel Partridge Skylark & Wagtail: 1st D Pimlott (Keenets Elton) 30.10.0 Partridge 27 All carp to pole & corn at 12 metres; 2nd I Thompson (Elton Tackle) 24.7.0; 3rd P Clarke (Normark) 23.14.0.

At the Oaks Sessay VDE Goole's Dean Smith continued his fantastic run notching yet another success on Maple Lake.

Dean drew the right area peg 64 and fished it just right finishing well clear taking 52.13.0 of carp best to 4.0.0 on pole and maggot at 13 metres.

Others: J Allerton (Tri Cast Whizzo) 46.1.0 3 P White (Fisherman's Way) 30.5.0.

Oaks (Sunday Open) Maple Lake: 1st J Holmes (Edgeley Sports) 52.2.0; 2nd M Vanderkamp (Sensas Garbolino) 44.14.0 3 R Holmes (Map Elton) 34.0.0.

Fixtures

Tomorrow: *Woodland Lakes Open - Tickets on 01845 526110.

Sunday: *Yarm AA Fur & Feather Lower Tees. *Yorkshire WL (4) River Ouse Fulford & Middlethorpe. *Bradford City AA Geoff Scollick Xmas Cheer R. Ure at Brampton (60 pegs), tickets from Rodney Brooksbank 01423 547537. *Ripon Piscatorials Trophy Xmas Match River Ure Barn Island to Bishop Monkton. *Tadcaster APA Open (60 pegs) River Wharfe at Smaws Ings. Tickets on 01937 832972. *Chester le Street (5) River Wear. *Woodland Lakes Open. *Oaks Sessay Open Maple Lake.