ATWL 5th round, Appley Bridge, 80 pegs

And so to the penultimate round, that means next to last, of this years' Angling Trust Winter League, Wigan Division. I missed last week due to being somewhere else but I managed to get back in the team this week. Beggars can't be choosers :) Appley Waz was today's venue and the day started off down at the Water's Edge for a bit of Carol's warm hospitality. It turned out to be a half decent match despite the very windy conditions and even the parking seemed to go smoothly. I suppose 80 pegs ain't too bad but any more and you'd really struggle to squeeze all those cars in.

So the draw was made and I was in A section, down towards Hand's Lane Bridge and a bit of a camel ride. End-peg was in B and the Warrior was in D so we were pretty close to each other. I quite fancied it down there to produce a few fish but once again I reckon I was in the hardest section. It was eventually won with 1-14-0 from Joe Pilling through the bridge, Carl Robby was in the bridge 'ole on the same side and got second with 1-12-0. Then came a right peg to peg tussle between me and Gary 'jolly nice chap' Marchant on my right. We were pegs A6 and A7 respectively and although Gaz got off to a flyer I pegged him back slowly but surely and at the weigh in he put 1-11-13 on the scales and I then weighed 1-11-12. He did me by a chuffin' dram! I ask you, how can those friggin' beam scales be that accurate in that wind? I reckon Gary slipped the scalesman a few casters or a bit of bread or maybe 50p. We'll never know, all that is for sure is that Gazza did me so I had to settle for 4th :) Well done Gary! (crabby git).

It was the same old story, bread or squatt for bits and if you're lucky you might just nick a bonus of some description. My bonus today was a billy of about 2 ounce!

 So that was that and back at the pub we had pretty much our same pattern of results. End-peg won his section with the help of a last ditch snig which he was fishing for and he definitely knew it was on! :) Damar won his section and George Doors was second in his. We then had a few 4 pointers but then a couple of 7's and a solitary 8, can't possibly say who that was, hehe :) Our score of 44 put us a poxy 5th on the day and with Maver bombing the overall league table is tighter than cramp. You can see it over yonder but Sams and TCP will fight it out for top slot next week while three of us, Standish, Rochdale and Lostock are all on 21 so lots to play for as Smiffy is paying the top four teams. Mathematically it's now not possible for us to qualify this year which is a shame but that's fishin'.

Dave Massey, Sam's, was top individual on the day with an impressive 7-6-0 from the last peg in the match near the little basin heading towards the third swing bridge. Ditch, TCP, was second with 6-12-0 with D. Turner, Rochdale, coming in third with 6-7-6. Matty Glover, Sam's, was fourth with 5 lb odd so a big well done to that lot today! There's not a lot to say really about methods, I was chatting to Ant in the pub after the match and we both agreed that it's the same sketch as always. Bread, bread and more bread, maybe a few squatts and a bit of worm, if you're really lucky you might get an odd caster fish.
Before I go I want to express some slight concern over the behaviour of Gorgeous George, not only does he wear fake tan and get himself regularly waxed but he's now started creeping up behind you in the pub, pretending to be a dog and grabbing a quick fondle. He needs a month in t'Egypt :)
So that's it for this week, next week sees the final match up at Heaton's Bridge with the draw in the pub there. The good thing is we look like getting away without having to break any ice this year :)
'Till next time .... tight lines one and all :)
PS, on behalf of everyone who reads the blog I 'd like to wish Gary Kelly a speedy recovery, get well soon mate!