HONOURS in the Yorkshire Winter League went to Sensas Wibsey in a dramatic finish on a rising River Ouse around Hunters Lodge and Linton.

A raging torrent from the Pennines decimated matches further upstream, but most anglers were able to bag a few fish before it struck that section of the Ouse.

At the final whistle, the long-time league combatants could not be separated as Anglers World Holidays and Sensas Wibsey ended the series tied on points with 15 each.

It was the Bradford-based Wibsey boys who got the title on the basis of match wins, helped by victory on the final day.

With both teams going through to the semi-final, neither is likely to be relishing a visit to Lindholme Lakes where the commercial fishery specialists will surely dominate.

Mick Doyle, of Leeds Angling Centre, topped the day with a level 17lb. Offering lob worm on a feeder rig, he netted a trio of hefty slabs mid-match for an easy win.

Bream also featured for Glen’s Steve Smith, who bagged two on peg 221 for his 8lb 12oz, which saw off Stan Haigh, of Angler’s World Holidays, who netted a bream and ten roach on pole and maggot from peg 225 for his 8lb.

Tom Gausden, also of Angler’s World Holidays, was the top individual with an excellent return of 36 points from a possible 42.

Keith Mitchell (Barlby Village Stores) and Smith were also incredibly consistent with a score of 33 points each.

Competitors in the feature event this weekend, the return of the Acomb Tackle York and District Winter League, will be hoping river levels have dropped again.

Despite a bitter wind making bites difficult to spot, Andy Dargue got enough tugs at peg 249 on the Linton length to put him two pounds clear of his rivals in the Riverside Financial Services contest on the Ouse.

Offering red maggot on the groundbait feeder one third out, the Browning Quaker rod beat a chub of 2lb 8oz, backed by a couple of decent skimmers and roach to 1lb 8oz, to end the day with 13lb 14oz on the scales.

Second-placed Glen Lawrence, of Maver Barnsley, took the worm and feeder option at Hunter’s Lodge 221 in the hope of finding bream.

With 20 minutes to go, he had a score of roach and was going nowhere, but his perseverance paid off and three late bream came in quick succession to elevate him to second spot with 11lb 14oz.

Keith Mitchell got on the board for the first time with 11lb 8oz made up of a 6lb slab with roach on the tip at 261 at Linton.

Result: 1 Andy Dargue, Browning Quaker, 13-14-0; 2 Glen Lawrence, Maver Barnsley, 11-14-0; 3 Keith Mitchell, Elton Tackle, 11-8-0; 4 John Illingworth, Daiwa Dons, 7-2-0; 5 John Cyrowski, Barlby Village Stores, 6-10-0; 6 Keith Hobson, Maver Barnsley, 6-9-0.