The six anglers who turned out for Marston's Foster Andrews Cup found the Cherwell in top form, with the fish almost climbing up the poles.

Whether it was because the river was rising after rain on the previous Friday or the unseasonal warm weather, the fish were taking everything thrown at them and the last hour was really good.

The top two weights were very close, but Anthony Tomkins took the cup in the end with 23.6.0. He balled in some groundbait at the start and then fished the pole at 6m with maggot, catching bream and roach.

Steve Tomkins went on the groundbait feeder with maggot and also had bream and roach for second place with 20.10.0.

Maggot-feeder with worm on the hook was the method used by Barry Lewis, who finished third with 6.0.0 of bream and perch.

The bream caught in match were between 3-4lb and don't often show up.

Kidlington were also on the Cherwell for a Green Road Social Club-sponsored Open, but the 13 anglers on the Branson Meadow stretch found it hard work.

Pegged just below Branson Bridge, Henry Clarke fished the feeder with chopped worm, catching two bream weighing about 8lb, plus some perch, for a winning 11.13.8.

Fishing the pole with worm, Giles Cuss found a nice 5lb bream, plus some roach and perch, for a second-placed 7.10.8, while a few small perch were enough to cement third place for Alan Steele with a modest 1.8.8. He fished a straight bomb and worm.

Although our rivers were all rising, the Oxford Canal at the 39 Steps was low and clear. Oxford Waltonian were on this stretch for a club match, and the eight anglers all caught.

A net of perch up to 2lb gave Lee Funge 6.1.0 and top spot using a pole with chopped worm.

Also on the chop was second angler home, Jason Smith, who caught perch and a nice bonus chub of 3lb for 4.15.0, while Paul Bowers finished third with 4.8.0 of small roach, skimmers and perch on the pole and pinkie.

It proved a struggle for the six anglers who fished the Jolly Anglers club match on their town waters on a rising Thames which had come up about a foot overnight and was still rising at the start whistle.

Martin MacDonald began with groundbait feeder and maggot and landed a bream of 3.8.0. He then changed tactics to laying on with maggot and landed some small skimmers and roach for a winning 3.7.0.

A net of roach worth 2.1.0 on pole and maggot gave Warren Cave second, followed by Phil Ansell, who had a mixed catch on groundbait feeder and maggot.

OTHER RESULTS

Oakfield: (Thursday, Swallow/Brook, 18 fished) 1 G Warrall (Oakfield) 61.7.8, 2 L Johnson (Oakfield) 41.7.8, 3 M Warrall (Oakfield) 27.8.0.

Oakfield: (Saturday, Swallow/Brook, 18 fished) 1 P Alland (Oakfield) 138.5.0, 2 M Nutt (Fox Match GOT Baits) 23.11.0, 3 M Giles (RS Baits) 23.8.0.

Panshill: (Thursday, Wood Lake, 17 fished) 1 D Holland (Panshill) 27.1.0, 2 M Betteridge (Acorn Angling) 18.1.0, 3 R Guppy (RS Baits) 15.8.0.

Panshill: (Saturday, Pans Lake, 13 fished) 1: J Sweeting (SPRO) 38.8.0, 2 B Eddy (Panshill) 34.0.0, 3 D Hawkins 21.0.0.

Panshill: (Saturday, Wood Lake, 18 fished) 1 R Guppy (RS Baits) 70.6.0, 2 B Morgan 37.14.0, 3 D Hawkins 31.0.0.