LAST Sunday was the second R.D.A.A. match of the season – held from Beat 3 to Beat 5 on the Kennet – and the anglers were competing for the Preservation Cup & Claw Scaffold Trophy, writes Alan Hughes.

Fifty anglers were booked in for this match and the weather was warm dry and sunny, and with a strong and gusty breeze blowing.

The Kennet had a good colour and was flowing strongly due to recent rain.

Total match weight on the day was 207lbs 5ozs at an average weight of 4lbs 13ozs per angler.

The top three teams were TRBLAS with 57lbs 12ozs, Reading Fishing Club with 39lbs 6ozs and Reading Civil Service with 31lbs 13ozs.

The match was won by Tony Tibble of TRBLAS. Fishing the first peg downstream of Berkley Avenue Road Bridge on Beat 5B section, he banked a mixture of roach, perch and dace early in the match, fishing stick float tactics close in, with single caster on the hook, over hemp feed.

Switching to waggler tactics on the far side later on in the match saw him bank six chub to 4lbs 8ozs with single and double maggot on the hook over maggot feed to record a weight of 26lbs 15ozs.

Phil Allen of Reading Civil Service was second. Fishing on the first peg upstream of Rosekiln Lane Road Bridge on Beat 4B section, he banked mainly roach with a few dace and perch. Using the same tactics as the winner Allen took the scales down to 22lbs 11ozs.

Rob Stevens of YOTAC/21 Club came third. Fishing on the first peg downstream of the “white bridge” on Beat 5A section, Stevens banked a mixture of roach and dace, fishing stick float tactics close in early on in the match, with single caster on the hook, over hemp feed.

He switched to waggler tactics on the far side later on in with single maggot on the hook, over maggot feed to record a weight of 8lbs 15ozs.

Fourth spot went to Simon Couling of Reading Fishing Club with 8lbs 11ozs from Beat 5A and completing the top five was Steve White of YOTAC/21 with 8lbs 8ozs.

Section weights were: A Beat 3B 34lbs 6ozs, B Section Beat 4A 22lbs 7ozs, C Section “Beat 4B” 57lbs, D Section Beat 5A 42lbs 10ozs, E Section Beat 5B 50lbs 14ozs.

TRBLAS top the club championship with 70lbs 2ozs, Reading Fishing Club follow with 66lbs 8ozs and Courage/SE are third with 33lbs 12ozs.

The Individual Aggregate Weight Trophy is headed by Tibble with 29lbs 5ozs and not far behind is Allen with 12lbs 5ozs. Mick Donohoe heads the points table with 18 points and he is followed by Tibble and Dave Finn with 16 points each.

The RDAA Tuesday Club fished the Prom behind Rivermead and John Berry led the way with 11lbs 2ozs of roach. Second went to George Callaghan with 10lbs 4ozs of roach and perch and completing the trio was Keith Wilkins with 9lbs 7ozs that consisted of silver fish plus two decent sized skimmers.