IT was back to form for the Swale during the Northallerton and District AC John Grainger Trophy when the chub went on a feeding frenzy and the top 2 competitors shared over a ton'.

The Upper reaches at Scruton were fining down to a normal summer level and new match secretary Paul Bosomworth hauled out a terrific chub bag totalling 51.7.0, but just enough to nick the result on the day.

Stickfloat and maggot tactics along the far bank accounted for 18 quality chub off the top of the big island.

A lost barbel proved costly for Pete Miller of Marsh Tackle who finished on 48.3.0. In the willows above jetty corner, alternating stickfloat and bomb and opting for maggot 16 chub were safely deposited in the net.

Other backing weights: N Smith (Aireborough) 28.0.0; J Hardcastle (Northallerton) 23.7.0; K Weighell (RSPS) 22.14.0.

While on the lower reaches of the Swale between Helperby and Brafferton, the Village Charity Open proved a hard match. Alan Chatten of Newton on Ouse thought he was in for an action packed session after landing 2 barbel in the opening hour on legered meat but disappointingly there were no more bites and he'd done enough for victory with 12.10.0 from John Cosgrove (Helperby) 11.5.0.

The Ure rose 2ft overnight for the Ripon Piscatorials Hemsley Cup on the Hutton Beck to Hewick match length. The extra colour encouraged barbel to feed and the leading trio all included a big specimen apiece. RSPS regular Steve Hodson comfortably got ahead recording 20.14.0. Fishing below the Bypass Bridge, stickfloat and caster brought a 6.0.0 barbel along with 6 chub.

Leeds Colin Brown at Sharow legered lobworm for a mixture of chub and perch but highlight undoubtedly was a 7.0.0 barbel making up 14.14.0 from Keith Mottram (Aireborough) 13.14.0.

North Central League (2) Brafferton Spring Lake (50 pegs): 1 M Longhurst (Ripon) 25.11.0; 2 J Fletcher (Ripon) 24.4.0; 3 G Funnell (Knaresborough Daylight Baits) 23.5.0.

Top teams on the day: 1 Ripon 71 pts; 2 Knaresborough 60; 3 Thirsk 57.

League: Ripon 152; Thirsk 125; Knaresborough 123; Harrogate 109; Boroughbridge 103. Woodland Lakes - Wed: 1 R Minikin (Oaks) 92.12.0; 2 T Moran (Oaks) 91.6.0; 3 B Brierley (Garbolino Elton) 90.3.0 Oaks Sessay - Cedar Lake - Sun: 1 R Minikin (Oaks) 97.14.0; 2 N Machin (Garbolino Dynamite) 84.0.0; 3 S Richards (APV) 80.14.0.

Leighton Reservoir Masham N.

Yorks: 164 rods - 377 fish - rod average 2.3. Sport improving with 40 per-cent of visitors catching their limit bags.

Fixtures Tomorrow: Yarm AL Tees - Over Dinsdale ; Northallerton & DAC Open Swale - Scruton to Far Fairholme. Tickets 01609 779073. ; Oaks Sessay ; Woodland Lakes Sunday: ; Yarm AL Danby Cup Lower Tees - Yarm ; Darlington & District Teams of 4 Tees - Over Dinsdale ; Idle & Thackley AA Open Swale - Swainby ; Ripon Piscatorials Centenary Cup Ure - Barn Island to Bishop Monkton ; Bradford No1 AA A Philips Memorial - Knotford Lagoon ; Middlesbrough AC - Tollerton Ponds ; Oaks Sessay