Eastleigh match group stormed to success in the fourth round of the Hants, Wilts & Dorset Winter League on The Kennet and Avon Canal at Pewsey.

They look to have the Winter League title at their mercy as nearest rivals Todber could only muster third.

Eastleigh have been on the crest of a wave this year, winning The Reelcare Cup and The Toyota Clubman Cup.

The Winter League title will be a fitting end to a fantastic year for the revitalised match group.

Eastleigh scored a superb 82 out of 100 points with section wins for Bob Drew and Paul White backed up by second in sections for Ray Hayward, Graham Tappenden, Gary Naylor and Steve Hunt.

Hosts Pewsey and District AC finished second with 77.5 points with Todber Manor third with 69, and reigning champions Pewsey Avon Angling back in fourth with 62.

Others: Dorset Raiders and Christchurch 55.5, Andover 43.5, TVAC 40.5, Ringwood 37.5, Dowton 26.

With two matches remaining Eastleigh top the league with six penalty points.

Others: Todber 10, Pewsey & District and Pewsey Avon Angling 15, Dorset Raiders 18, Andover 27.

Darren Fordham (Pewsey and District) took a superb 24lb haul of large skimmers from the Milkhouse stretch on pole and maggot to shade Andy Palmer (Pewsey Avon Angling) on the next peg with 23lb 8oz of skimmers.

Steve Stockley (Pewsey and District) finished third with 12lb 3oz of skimmers also from Milkhouse.

Others: P White (Eastleigh) 8lb 15oz, C Burgess (Christchurch) 7lb 12oz, R Randall (Todber manor) 6lb 15oz. Sections A A West (TVAC) 3lb 7oz), B D Fordham (Pewsey and District) 24lb, C P White (Eastleigh) 8lb 15oz, D S Stockley (Pewsey and District) 12lb 13oz, E C Burgess (Christchurch) 7lb 12oz, F R Hanson (dorset Raiders) 4lb 13oz, G M Illingworth (Pewsey Avon Angling) 6lb 11oz, H B Drew (Eastleigh) 3lb 9oz, J D Pool (Pewsey Avon Angling) 6lb 5oz, K S Hebdith (Todber) 5lb 10oz.

In the individual points championship, Ben Dukes (Todber) leads with 38 points pursued by the Eastleigh pack of Dave Higgins and Ray Hayward on 37 and Steve Hunt on 36.

In the Avon Valleys Winter League on the Basingstoke Canal between Claycart and Ash Lock, leaders Hansfords finished fifth on the day. Nearest rivals Starfix Farnborough finished third so the table-toppers only dropped two points.

Godalming won the day with 66 section points from Farnham on 61 with Starfix Farnborough third with 59 and Alan's Marine fourth with 56. Hansfords still hold a healthy lead going into the last round.

Individually, Alan's Marines Boris Commons took a 12lb 8oz carp on the pole and double caster plus three perch for a total of 13lb 4oz from the green sheds to win unchallenged. Steve Lynburn (Hansfords) finished second with 4lb 3oz of perch and bits with Andy Howard (Twyford) third with a 4lb 1oz mixed bag.

Others: O Wallace (Alans Marine) 3lb 13oz, L Sheriff (Godalming) 3lb 10oz, N Boniface (GTMG) 3lb 8oz.

The latest Greenridge Farm Open saw TVAC's Dave Parvin win comfortably with a 40lb bag of small carp from peg 16 on Canal Two on pole and paste. Alister Murchie (Hansfords) finished second on Canal Two with 29lb 6oz of silver fish and carp with Paul White (Eastleigh) third with 25lb.

Cormorants' latest club match on Longbridge saw victory for Cormorants Team Sillybaits' Richard Yeo, who took six carp to 15lb for a total of 51lb 6oz from peg 21a. Yeo fished a mixture of waggler and feeder tactics for his fish.

Dynamite Baits' Dave Hambidge finished second from peg 22 with 9 carp for 47lb 4oz with Rick Kajko third with a 44lb 12oz bag of carp from peg 30 on the waggler.

Others: G Maton (Cormorants Team Sillybaits) 40lb 14oz, S Bucksey 40lb 7oz, K Podsadowski 36lb 12oz.

Despite carp living for an average of over 30 years and some being recorded to nearly 50 years old, there still comes a time when it's important to introduce new blood into carp fisheries.

Two local venues steeped in carp fishing history took the step this week when introducing their first fish for a long time.

Castle Angling Club's Buttlocks Heath Reservoir received some original leeny carp way back in the 1960s along with Stoneham and Embley Park.

But those fish are no longer with us and the bigger carp at Buttlocks at present were stocked in the early 1980's.

50lb of fish were added in 1992 with the best now reaching 20lb and it was decided last year to introduce ten double figure carp from the Fishers Pond strain. The fish, which won't be four years old until next June, were supplied by New Forest-based specialist carp farmers Heather Fisheries and were between 10-12lb.

Chichester & District's Wick Lake at Quarry Lane Chichester has for years been one of the South's leading carp fisheries with a stack of twenties and fish up to 34lb.

But with the originals stocked in the early 1970s it was decided to plan for the future and Wick received 50 Fishers Pond strain carp in the 10lb to 12ob bracket, again supplied by Heather Fisheries. Wick is a very rich Gravel Pit and it is hoped that the new stockies should start hitting the 30lb mark within five years and go on to be some seriously big fish.