The Yorkshire Winter League is set for a tense finale in the new year following last weekend's penultimate contest on the Ouse at Hunter's Lodge.

Long-time leaders Anglers World York slumped to fourth place on a flooded and icy river leaving the way open for the chasing pack to erode their advantage to a single point.

Some solace was taken from the individual win of Tom Gausden, who took top spot thanks to a fine bream of 8lb taken on feeder and caster from fancied peg 220 on the bungalows at Hunter's Lodge.

Nigel Hirst led the challenge of his tackle shop squad, taking second place from nearby peg 222. He also targeted bream but found a few roach on feeder with red maggot for his 2lb 8oz.

The rest of the field of 80 found the going tough as the river had taken on the appearance of a muddy ditch following an overnight torrent. Only a further eight anglers managed to break a pound and there were numerous blanks.

Hirst Tackle 'A' and 'B' teams tied at the top ahead of Wibsey Angling in third and Anglers World York in fourth.

With the last match on the same venue in a couple of weeks there will be some anxious glances over shoulders from the York-based side, who have both Hirst Tackle 'A' and Wibsey Angling just a point adrift.

Anglers competing in the only match this weekend will be hoping for better fortune. The Acomb Tackle York Winter League will see more than 100 tackle the Ouse below York tomorrow.

The river still holds plenty of the colour that blighted last week's contest. This should work in the angler's favour this time and I expect plenty of skimmers to see the year out in style.

Some more festive good news this week. Labour's Parliamentary spokesman for angling and shooting, Martin Salter MP, secured a public commitment from Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael that these sports will not be affected in any way by the Government's new Hunting Bill, which outlaws stag hunting and hare coursing and makes provision for licensing of fox hunting in certain areas where no alternative method can be used effectively.

Salter was responding to claims by the Countryside Alliance that angling and shooting were somehow under threat.

Updated: 11:00 Saturday, December 28, 2002