With rivers well up last weekend after the very wet weather, several matches were either cancelled or moved to other venues, writes Andy Webber.

Several rivers in the area had flood watches put on them by the Environment Agency, but hopefully they will back on song in time for tomorrow.

With two more matches to go in this year’s Winter League, last Sunday’s match on the Kennett and Avon canal at Avington was very important.

The 55 matchmen found the water in good nick, although the leaves made presentation a little awkward.

There were plenty of fish about and the average weight per man was 5.8.0, which is very good.

Kevin Holmes (Sensas A4) was tops on the day with 17.2.0, comprising a bream, a tench, plus some perch on chopped worm and caster.

Fishing the same bait, Darren Simons (Fox Match Isis) took second place with a net of skimmers and perch worth 15.14.0.

With 6lb of roach on bloodworm and joker, plus over 7lb of perch on the chop, John Beesley (Oxford Drennan) was third with 13.8.0.

Teams on the Day: Sensas A4 47, Oxford Drennan 46, Garbolino Banbury Gun-smiths 37, Fox Match Isis 35, North Oxford AS 20, Oxford Bees 19.

Teams after 4 rounds: Sensas A4 6, Oxford Drennan 7, Fox Match Isis 13, Garbolino BGS 14, North Oxford AS and Oxford Bees 22.

Individuals after 4 rounds: M Ellyatt (Oxford Drennan) and M Herbert (Oxford Drennan) 23pts, C Telling (Oxford Drennan) 21, D Wright (Sensas A4) 20.

Beehive AC fished their Freight Shepherd Trophy at Lower Court, which proved a match of two halves for the 12 anglers, with most fish congregated towards the deep end.

Nigel Waters didn’t start the day well, breaking his pole before the match had started, which forced him to fish the pellet waggler.

This method paid off when he put 135.8.0 on the scales to romp to victory.

In second place was Kevin Jeacock with 85.15.0 of carp to waggler and maggot, followed by Dave Simmons, who fished pole and waggler with maggot for 49.4.0 and third.

The fifth round of the Masons Individual Winter Series was fished on Pans Lake over at Panshill Fishery, where Andy Benwell (Predator) trium-phed with a net of F1 carp going 52.6.0 on red maggot to the far bank.

Pegged on the bend, Roger Bowler also fished hard over with maggot and finished second with 26.14.0.

He was followed by Steve Morton, who fished down the middle and weighed in with 26.1.0.

With their school water unfishable, Oxford Bus AC switched to a full and dirty backwater where Pete Clarke put a net of perch on the scales for a winning 9.4.0 on pole with worm on the hook.

Using a feeder and red maggot, Denis Butler found some perch, roach and skimmers for a second-placed 7.11.0.

For the second week running, Anthony Tompkins had to settle for third place, with 7.5.0 of perch on chop.

Jolly Anglers switched their match from the BMH to the Oxford reach because of the extra water the Thames was carrying.

Although the river was up, the ten anglers found the fishing OK, considering the conditions.

Phil Ansell fished the pole and maggot and caught 102 small silver fish for 7.14.0 and first place.

Martin MacDonald had to settle for second place with 7.12.0. He started off on the cage feeder with liquidised bread and flake, catching several decent roach using this method.

He then switched to the stick float, alternating bet-ween maggot and punch to catch more redfins.

Using the groundbait feeder, Dave Mitchell took third place with 4.6.0, which included a couple of good skimmers.

Sutton Courtenay also transferred their Tomb Ripon Memorial match from Culham Reach to Culham Cut, and there was a good turn out of 15.

Using pole with caster, Steve Wheatley netted 7.9.0 of perch for first place.

Also using caster was Ian Higgins, who instead of perch, got among some excellent roach, ending up with a second-placed 7.4.0.

Sat next door, John Percival caught 5.4.0 of perch on worm fished over caster.

The Oxford Canal at Frenchay Road was the venue for Dorchester’s Inter-League fourth round, and the eight matchmen found the water pulling through a bit.

For some reason, by 10am the match length died, and for the rest of the time it was a struggle.

Lol Budd was first with a net of perch and bits weighing 6.13.0 on chopped worm and punch.

Also alternating between punch and chop was Ian Fisher, who caught 3.15.0, enough for second place.

John Wheeler fed chop and caster and then fished caster over the top, to catch one good perch and some bits for a third-placed 3.3.0.