Matt Herbert took the honours in the first round of the Oxford Summer League was fished by seven teams of six on the Kennet & Avon Canal around the Great Bedwyn area.

As in the previous week’s practice match, bream dominated from the features pegs.

Herbert (Drennan Banbury Ginsmiths) was drawn on the end peg and made the most of it by catching 19 skimmer bream on pole and worm over groundbait for a winning 23.12.0.

Graham Godwin (Turners) also had a net of skimmers on worm over chopped worm for 14.14.0, followed by Mark Bowerman (Sensas A4) with 14.5.0 comprising more skimmers on worm over grounbait.

Teams: 1 Turners 33pts, 2 Drennan Ban-bury Gunsmiths Red 31, 3 Sensas A4 29.

The start of a new river coarse fishing season meant North Oxford AS were able to fish the Cherwell for the first time since September due to the wet autumn and winter as they staged the Scott Lyster Cup on the Wolfson College stretch of the river.

Maurice Winstone led them home with 8.5.0 of skimmers on caster over groundbait, pipping Steve Wildman, who had a decent bream on bread, plus bits, for 7.1.0.

Ron Hamblin was third with 5.12.0 of bream and perch.

Tackley Estates AC were also on the Cherwell as 14 anglers fished their match at Hogs Bottom.

John Spencer caught a nice bream of 7.2.0, plus some bits, on pole and lobworm for top spot with 7.7.0, followed by Geoff Broome with 4.13.0 and Frank Malone with 4.6.0.

Organiser Tony Wright reported lots of crayfish.

Mick Sear won the third and final leg of Sutton Courtenay AC’s Short Memorial Series at the Appleford Reach of the Thames on Sunday.

Only eight anglers fished, three of whom did not weigh in.

A chub of 4.4.0 on feeder and red maggot did the trick for Sear, who also took round two, while Ian Higgins was second with a 2.5.0 of perch and chublets on pole with red maggot. Gary Stafford was third with 2.8.0.

A disappointing field of five anglers turned out for Masons AC’s points match at Laura’s Lagoon, Harwell.

Jason Smith came out on top with 28.8.0, which included a pole-caught carp of 13.13.0, a bream of 6.0.0, a tench and perch on worm and maggot.

Dave Pether followed him home with 11.8.0 of perch, skimmers and rudd on poled maggot.

The Cherwell fished better than expected for Marston AC FTB’s first match of the season and double figures were needed to make the frame.

Mark Ward was struggling with an hour to go, but a swap to the feeder and large pieces of flake for hookbait resulted in four good bream for a winning 12.14.0.

Antony Tomkins was only just behind with 12.9.0, which consisted of one good bream, plus skimmers, roach and perch on the pole with maggot over groundbait.

Steve Tomkins was third with 11.4.0 comprising one good bream and skimmers on pole with punch or maggot. Twelve fished.

Marston are holding an evening match next Wednesday on their Dead Stream stretch of the Cherwell. Draw is at 5pm, fishing from 6pm-9pm. Details from Steve Tomkins on 07789 890256

OTHER RESULTS

Littlemore AS: J Henwood Shield (Stable Lake, 20 fished) 1 D Robinson 24.4.0 (6 carp, pole & method feeder, pellet), 2 A Bailey 22.12.0, 3 C Webb 21.3.0.

Benson AC: (Club match, Thames, 3 fished) 1 T Krayson 2.7.0, 2 D Head 1.3.0, 3 M Marriott 0.3.0.

TOMORROW’S FIXTURES
Oxford Summer League: Practice match, Thames at Medley.
Marston AC FTB: Halls Cup, Dead Stream, Cherwell. Draw 7am, fishing  8-1.
Beehive AC: FA Cup/UEFA Cup quarter-finals, Frobury. Fishing 10-4.
WEDNESDAY
Marston AC FTB: evening club match, Dead Stream, Cherwell. Draw 5pm, fishing 6-9.