YET another quiet autumn weekend and with a complete lack of rainfall all waters are now becoming stale and showing a distinct lack of colour.

At least that prolific lily growth is starting now to die back on the Sibsey Trader, Maud Foster and Bargate Drains and the Hobhole Drain has been taken down towards winter levels in readiness for this coming week's expected heavy rainfall, writes Barry Mallett.

With a very still and bright day these conditions combined to give many match anglers a difficult day on Sunday in the second round of the Boston Winter League.

At the Saturday sweep, on the Horncastle Road section of the Maud Foster Drain, Mark Cook followed up his Fishtoft AC victory last week on the Twenty Foot Drain with another sterling performance to win at a canter. Nearly 5lbs separated him from Andy Scott, chopped worm and caster which yielded a couple of tench, to a net of small skimmers, made the difference.

Andy stuck to squatt and pinkie for a net of mainly roach with the odd skimmer thrown in. Mark Griggs pinched third.

1 Mark Cook 13lbs 1oz; 2 Andy Scott 8lbs 7ozs; 3 Mark Griggs 7lbs 1oz; 4 Steve Lamyman 6lbs 10ozs.

The next Saturday sweep will take place back on Windsor Bank, draw (12.15pm).

On Sunday, Winter League competitors used both the Windsor Bank and Horncastle Road sections.

Tench again made the difference as Trevor Ogilvie took three 3lbs plus models to add to around 5lbs of skimmers for a long overdue victory.

Drawn in the early pegs on Horncastle Road, a worm approach again made the difference as he just edged Ben Brighton into second spot.

A double squatt hookbait was eagerly grabbed by one of those large tench and after a tense battle landed in due course.

Ben for his part was drawn on Windsor Crescent and electing to stick to pole and punch he came up with an all roach net, finishing just a pound down on Trevor. Andy Scott again had to settle for a minor place as another roach catch to pole and squatt gave him third, ahead of Roger Wakenshaw.

The wheels fell off a little for the Garbolino Lincs County White but their compatriots in the Red team came up trumps and won the day, three points ahead of Browning Boston who moved up a place and are now tied in first after two rounds.

In Division Two, the BAC Red four fell away to third as Horncastle came good with the help of Kev Soulby and Roger Wakenshaw.

Individuals: 1 Trevor Ogilvie K9 15lbs 4ozs; 2 Ben Brighton Browning Boston 14lbs 3 ½ ozs; 3 Andy Scott Garbolino Lincs County White 10lbs 9ozs; 4 Roger Wakenshaw Horncastle 9lbs 10ozs; 5 Craig Crow DVA 7lbs 2ozs; 6 Brian Clarke 6lbs 13ozs.

Div 1: 1 Garbolino Lincs County Red 23pts; 2= Browning Boston; 3 Disabled Veterans Assoc. 20pts; 4= Garbolino Lincs County White 17pts & K9 17pts.

Div 2: 1 Horncastle 19pts; 2 BAC Black 18pts; 3= BAC Red & Fishtoft AC 16pts.

After two rounds:

Div 1: 1= Garbolino Lincs County White & Browning Boston 44pts; 3 Garbolino Lincs County Red 40pts; 4 DVA 36pts; 5 K9 31pts.

Div 2: 1 BAC Red 38pts; 2 BAC Black 34pts; 3 Horncastle 31pts; 4 Fishtoft AC 30pts; 5 Wainfleet AC 29pts.

The 114th Boston Annual Match will take place this Sunday (Oct 25) on the Bargate Drain. Contact Barry Mallett on (01205) 871815 ASAP.

Fishtoft AC resume their winter programme this coming Sunday and members are asked to meet at McDonalds 7am.