DARREN Bickerton caught 11 perch to triumph in the latest Erewash Valley Winter League match.

He used worm and casters to tempt the fish – which weighed up to 1lb 8oz – for a winning 8lb 10oz in the fourth round contest, staged on the Tamworth Road section of the Erewash Canal.

Despite an overnight frost, sport was good and a string of decent weights was produced.

Jim Clayton was the closest challenger at the top of the standings.

He was drawn at the double decker boat and caught mixed silver fish throughout the match on bread punch and joker for the runners-up spot with a total of 6lb 13oz.

Lee Wright was third with a net of perch weighing 6lb 7oz 8drms.

Alistair Chisholme was fourth with 6lb 3oz, Phil Turner fifth with 6lb and Matt Hall sixth after banking 5lb 15oz.

Matchmen Supplies, who included Clayton in their line-up, won the team event with 21 points.

Bickerton was in the Starlets team that finished second with 30.

In the league, the Shakespeare team – whose challenge was spearheaded by Chisholme in the fourth round – are top with six points.

ANGLERS had to break the ice at Rycroft Fisheries before being able to start the sixth round of the Hemington venue's winter league.

Phil Charlton won the contest, fished on the Donno Lake, with 44lb 9oz which kept him clear of runner-up Jamie Bonsil, who had 34lb 13oz.

Matt Skelton was third after netting 29lb 4oz.

Dave Brown won on the carp lake with 41lb 3oz, while Shaun Kemp was first on the clover lake with 28lb 7oz.

Carl Hitchcock leads the league standings with six points, one clear of Simon Skelton, with Matt Skelton third on 10.

Chris Ball won the open match on the moat lake after tipping the scales with 16lb 4oz.

Gary Pilsworth was second with 11lb 7oz and Barry Walters was third with 7lb 14oz.

Joey Griffin was the winner in the clover lake open match after catching 29lb 13oz.

His closest challenger was Charlie Shaw, who banked 21lb 2oz, while Peter Warren claimed third place with 8lb 13oz.

A STRONG wind and heavy rain caused problems in Makins open match on the lizard lake.

The 17 anglers battled with the elements, with Danny Ross coming out on top after netting 15lb 6oz.

He snared a small carp on the feeder early on and then, fishing caster in the margins, caught roach and some big perch (to 2.5lb) to put 15lb 6oz on the scales for the win.

Phil Hull was second at peg 19 after fishing caster at 10m throughout to catch roach up to 10oz and several perch around the 2lb mark for his 14lb 6oz.

Gary Coton, drawn at peg 26 for the second successive week, had a single carp on the bomb for third place with 10lb 6oz.

Wendell Ward was fourth with 9lb 8oz and John Adamson fifth with 8lb 2oz.

Carp seemed to settle in high numbers along the A bank of lake two during the latest open match on that water.

Alan Neil was sat at peg A15 and had indications for most of the match but few positive bites.

He persevered on bomb with corn to tempt seven carp for 48lb 10oz and a clear win.

Ian Hughes was drawn at peg A20, where he landed two carp and two tench on bomb and corn.

He also had a single carp caught on the pole using pellet to help him finish with 26lb 4oz.

Coton was third at peg A13 with two carp for a 16-12 total.