Mighty Middlesbrough Newman Scott went into the final round of the North-East Winter League holding an almost unstoppable lead and rubbed further salt into the wound tying up the proceedings with another smooth team performance, writes JEFF HERBERT.

The Tees at Yarm was carrying an extra six inches and despite cold conditions bream put in an appearance.

Individually, Northallerton Angling Centre's Jim Prescott on the Fisheries length lifted five good skimmers. Groundbait feeder and maggot approach into mid river added about 4.0.0. of roach for a runaway 12.3.0.

John Stevens of Billingham Tackle Box followed opposite Whitehouse Farm.

Identical tactics resulted in 4 bream totalling 7.12.0.

Teams: 1st MNS 90 points, 2nd CAC 87, 3rd Darlington AC 85.

League: 1st MNS 545, 2nd Darlington AC 492, 3rd CAC 478, 4th Yarm Flynns 448, 5th Dunelm 388, 6th Dick Clegg Metro 359, 7th DBT 306, 8th Northallerton AC 286, 9th Billingham Tackle Box 285, 10th Yarm AA 259.

The Ouse was still four inches up but dropping for the opening fixture of the Acomb Tackle sponsored York Winter League and a touch of colour encouraged bream to feed.

Acomb's Nigel Rhodes edged it by a mere 1oz. In the Bay Hole at Fulford Nigel fed several balls of groundbait at the off then stickfloat and bread punch tempted both skimmers and roach for a 8.5.0. tally.

Darren Starkey, under the Bar Six banner, slipped into runner-up spot. Sat on the middle of the sand beds in Donkey Wood groundbait feeder and chopped worm utilising lobworm on the hook produced a similar net to the winner with the exception of a ruffe.

Teams: 1st Acomb 17.7.0, 2nd Bar Six 16.1.8, 3rd Selby Shipyard 13.8.0, 4th Bishopthorpe & Acaster A 12.9.8, 5th Scratchers 12.4.8, 6th Railway Institute 12.3.8.

Darlington's Bobby Trees got into the festive spirit topping Darlington Brown Trout's Xmas Cloke Memorial on the Tees.

Staked two above the Chalk Hole at Low Coniscliffe stickfloat and maggot down the crease resulted in three chub and a steady succession of grayling for a creditable 16.5.0.

Fellow rod Dave Alderson relied on an all grayling net to secure 2nd place in the frame and included specimens over the pound mark on stickfloat maggot and caster for 14.11.0.

Others: J Clack 8.5.0 and B Stephenson 8.1.0.

Marsh Tackle rods dominated Ripon's rearranged open on the Ure and Kevin McLoughlin came out on top weighing in a level 15.0.0.

Kevin, on the gravel bend below Hutton Beck, found a nice slack and swapped between feeder and bomb. Five chub obliged to worm bread and meat hookbaits.

In contrast dace and grayling for 13.0.0. made up Harrogate rod Malcolm Britton's return from opposite the chicken run.

On Saturday, Woodland Lake's Xmas Spectacular not only produced plenty of fish - a colour TV, video and CD player were also up for grabs.

John Chapman of Keenets beat a top class turnout of 110 rods recording a super carp haul of 53.4.0. Pulling out Partridge Lake 25 a small maggot feeder and single maggot approach attracted samples to 6.0.0.

Next Daryl Taylor of Map Elton opted for the pole on the island filled Mallard lake's peg 12. Pushing out at 16 metres on single maggot ensured 47.0.0 at the scales followed by team mate Ian Bowman on 41.2.0.

Round-up of the rest on the Carlton Miniott Complex Sunday's Open fished on Kestrel Partridge and Skylark (72 rods).

Results: 1st Mark Longhurst Elton Tackle 32.3.0. Kestrel 30 mainly carp with a sprinkling of chub and barbel, 2nd Phil Sharp West Park 29.2.0, 3rd Walter Smith 26.14.0.

Wednesday's event: 1st Barry Gregory Map Elton 56.7.0. Partridge 26 56.7.0. all carp, 2nd John McGarrell Map Elton 46.8.0, 3rd Steve Stock Huddersfield 44.9.0.

Other results: Oaks Open Sessay - Poplars Lake: 1st Paul Taylor Map Elton 15.4.0, 2nd Mick Herrington Headingley 12.5.0, 3rd Steve Turner GTI Wakefield 11.6.0.

Carpvale Pool Open Moor Monkton (Sunday): 1st Paul Fawcett York 26.10.0, 2nd Steve Howard York 25.2.0, 3rd Dave Wright Armley 19.10.0.

Stockton Fur & Feather Tees at Worsall: 1st Stuart Kimble Stockton 6.0.0. Single bream, 2nd Ernie Farrow Thornaby 2.8.0.

Northallerton Fur and Feather Swale at Scruton: 1st Nigel Menall Northallerton 7.8.0, 2nd Neil John Northallerton 6.3.0, 3rd Colin Stainsby Darlington 5.7.0.

Trout News Anglers are having to search deep to locate trout at Redworth's Jubilee Lakes. Cats whisker, Bloodworm Black Pennell and Buzzers successful.

Best rainbow last week 9.4.0 grassed by Stanhope's Tim Emblin. Rod average 3.5.

Legered worm accounting for majority of fish from Derwent Reservoir 124 visitors recorded 146 trout - biggest 2.4.0.

Fixtures: Tomorrow: *Sunderland FAC R. Wear Prebends & Cathedral lengths. *Woodland Lakes Open Tickets 01845 526110.

Sunday: *Bradford No. 1 AA Daily Mirror Cup R. Nidd Cowthorpe - tickets 01274 571175. *Idle & Thackley AA Fur and Feather Open R. Swale at Swainby 45 pegs. Tickets on 01274 618569. *Black Ox AC Fur and Feather Rosebowl Bedale Beck, Leeming. *Knaresborough Pisc. Fur & Feather R. Nidd - Scotton to Goldsborough. *Durham City AC Open D. Fox Series (10) R. Wear around the city. Tickets 0191 3842450. *Yarm AA Fur & Feather Lower Tees. *Thornaby AA Xmas Cheer Cup Tees - Croft to Hurworth. *York & DAA Xmas Cheer Faber Cup Ouse above the city - 200 pegs. *River Wear WL (3) Chester le Street. *Woodland Lakes Open. *Thirsk Winter Series (Cod Beck)