THE penultimate leg of the Acomb Tackle York Winter League provided the best match of the series so far and set up a thrilling finale.

Bream dominated on a flooded Ouse below York and Ray Marklew, of York Tackle, topped the 60-strong field from below the bridge in the Donkey Woods.

Offering worm with a ground bait feeder, he bagged five bream and a skimmer for 21lb 10oz.

John Cyrowski, of Barlby Village Stores, took second from the opposite bank with a 15lb 2oz bream haul from the top of the paddock at Fulford.

The Bridgefield at Bishopthorpe could not be kept out of the limelight and provided the consistent Phil Austin, of Barlby Village Stores, his third-placed bag.

Pegged in the middle of the section, he alternated lob worms and dendrabenas for four bream and a brace of skimmers scaling 13lb 12oz.

Leeds Angling Centre topped the team stakes ahead of Anglers World Holidays to move within a single point of the long-term leaders.

Others: Nigel Baker (Anglers Corner) 9-15; Dave Taylor (South Bank) 7-3; Don Murray (Tang Hall Match Group) 6-12; Steve Raper (Leeds Angling Centre) 6-10; Colin Hardy (Leeds Angling Centre) 6-2.

Teams: Leeds Angling Centre 60; Anglers World Holidays 55; York Tackle 54.

League: Anglers World Holidays 5; Leeds Angling Centre 6; York Tackle 14.