The penultimate round of the North East Winter League resulted in a near repeat of the previous match on the Lower Tees, writes JEFF HERBERT.

Darlington Angling Centre rods monopolised individual placings but the powerful Middlesbrough Newman Scotts ruled on the day and realistically look on course to take the title, leading by 48 points.

The match length at Yarm was running 6in up and pushing through.

Peter Nesbitt, second in last week's Tees Championships, enjoyed victory this time putting a hard-earned 5.8.0 on to the scales. Pegged opposite Whitehouse Farm, Peter went for chopped worm/feeder approach down the middle and caught small roach in bursts, but the highlight was a roach of 1.0.0. and a chub of 0.8.0.

Peter Hamilton, below the little field, also used the worm to good effect, attracting all small roach for 5.4.0.

Individuals: 1. P. Nesbitt 5.8.0. 2. P. Hamilton 5.4.0 3. J. Parkinson 3.14.0. (All Darlington Angling Centre) 4. P. Arnold MNS 3.6.0.

Teams: 1st MNS 97 points, 2nd Darlington AC 84, 3rd Dunelm 73 & Cleveland Angling Centre 72.

League: 1st MNS 455, 2nd Darlington AC 407, 3rd CAC 391, 4th Yarm Flynns 376, 5th Dunelm 322, 6th Dick Clegg Metro 299, 7th DBT 258, 8th Billingham Tackle Box 249, 9th Northallerton AC 225, 10th Yarm 218.

Swale tributary Cod Beck was carrying a nice colour but just a bit too much flow for most of the pegs during Thirsk's latest open.

Northallerton's Pat Adams, on a fancied chub swim off the top limit at Gristhwaite farm, quickly disposed of the rest. Stickfloat and maggot brought 14 similar sized specimens totalling 19.9.0.

Runner-up John Livesey, behind the swimming baths in Thirsk town centre, float fished caster, landing a mixture of dace grayling and a single chub for 11.14.0.

A metre of extra water resulted in Sunday's Ripon Open on the Ure being moved off the streams to the deeps below Barn Island.

Marsh Tackle's Terry Morgan emerged a delighted but unexpected winner. Legered lobworm looked destined to fail off the bargefield upstream of the yacht club, but in an exciting finale his last two casts of the day produced two chub. Nearest rival Steve Evans of Doncaster returned a chub and eel net for 5.10.8.

On the Woodlands Complex at Carlton Miniott the biggest match returns of the week came during Sunday's open. Carp responded from most swims but the noted Skylark 22 & 23 area again delivered.

Steve Wathey of MNS picked out Skylark 23 and small carp fed avidly. Working with the blockend feeder and maggot, a few bigger samples to 6.0.0. were safely netted on his way to an impressive 56.2.0.

On the next peg team-mate Dave Walker bagged 40.1.0 but Map Elton's Andy Waistell split the MNS duo as identical tactics brought carp for 41.10.0 off Partridge 9.

Skylark's dominance was interrupted on Saturday when venue regular Bill Blythe plundered a winning 34.10.0. from Partridge 14. The trusted small maggot feeder approach enticed a steady succession of sport.

Ironically Bill's team-mate and travelling companion Peter Nixon drew form peg 23 on Skylark but had to settle for runner-up spot on 33.11.0.

Woodland Lakes (Wed's) Open: Dave Collier Elton Tackle 30.7.0. Skylark 22 - all carp falling to single maggot Alan Scotthorne Shimano Mustad 26.5.0. Steve Wood Leeds 23.14.0.

Other results: Carpvale Pool Open Moor Monkton: 1 D Wright Armley 40.0.0, 2 A Geldard Armley 16.10.0, 3 S Howard Headingley Angling Centre 16.1.0.

Oaks Open Sessay - Poplars Lake: 1 G Pawlett Oaks 28.8.0, 2 M Sykes Harrogate Angling Supplies 20.0.0, 3 R Mangham Bentley 18.1.0.

Trout News: A record rainbow of 19.6.0 brightened a tough cold week on Derwent Reservoir. Newcastle's Mick Hayes battled with the fully-finned trout which accepted an orange fritz off the south shore.

In a week when 130 visitors grassed 136 fish legered worm accounted for the majority.

Gold ribbed hares ear, Cats whisker and Dawsons Olive proved the most successful at Jubilee Lakes. The Redworth fishery boasted three doubles, best 11.8.0 plus several more rod bending specimens between 5.0.0 & 9.0.0. Rod average three fish.

Fixtures: Tomorrow: Middlesbrough AC Gordon Brown Trophy Middle Swale (Gatenby to Baldersby). Tickets on (01642) 899288.

Woodland Lakes Open - Tickets on (01845) 526110.

Sunday: Idle & Thackley AA Open (45 pegs) R. Swale at Swainby - Tickets on (01274) 618569.

Black Ox Ac Bedale Beck Leeming.

DBT AA Les Ryde Memorial Upper Swale - Brompton to Ellerton.

Knaresborough Piscatorials Open R. Nidd. Tickets on (01423) 880262.

Durham City AC Open D. Fox Series (9) R. Wear around the City. Tickets on (0191) 3842450.

Yarm AA Bill Simpson Trophy Lower Tees.

Thornaby AA Presidents Cup R. Tees - Croft to Hurworth.

Bradford City AA Sykes Cup R. Ure - Brampton to Langthorpe. Tickets on (01423) 547537.

Darlington & District Pairs Open Tees - Over Dinsdale.

River Wear WL (2) Chester-le-Street.

Woodland Lakes Open.

Wetherby & District AC Open R. Wharfe (60 pegs). Tickets £10 ring (01937) 581733