Great Yarmouth's top fresh water angling squad Browning Pownalls are poised to lift their most important team title since they were formed four seasons ago.

Great Yarmouth's top fresh water angling squad Browning Pownalls are poised to lift their most important team title since they were formed four seasons ago.

The quality quartet consisting of Tony Anderson (captain), Mark Haverson, Adie Hindry and Brian Gooch went to the final round of the Norwich and District Summer League two points ahead of their nearest challengers Suffolk's Reggie's Boys, writes Roy Webster.

A top two finish on the Rivers Bure and Thurne will guarantee the Regent Road Tackle Shop-sponsored outfit the championship. And with the rivers teaming with small skimmer bream and roach team boss Anderson will doubtless form an up-to-the-minute tactic on match morning.

The high waters from last week's spring tides will have receded and conditions are likely to be perfect for roach fishing; indeed this may well be the species that decides the outcome of this final showdown. The draw is at 6am at Cold Harbour, fishing 7.30am to 12.30pm.

Highlight from the weekend match results was the victory on Great Yarmouth's River Yare Saturday Series for town rod Kevin Paynter who finished with a splendid of haul of 41lb 6oz of bream caught from peg 107 by the concrete bridge along the Beauchamp Arms match length.

Will Freeman (Preston Innovations) was runner-up with 36lb 4oz followed by Browning Pownall's men Brian Gooch with 33lb 9oz and Adie Hindry, 31lb 7oz.

Other match results: Browning Pownalls (Cobble Acre): C Gladding 74lb 10oz, D Playford 34lb 14oz, R Beech 27lb. Browning Pownalls (Dents): M Roundtree 24lb 10oz, B Burlton 24lb 6oz, M Seaman 23lb 3oz. Stalham (Bartles Lodge): D Agass 62lb 13oz, R Austrin 34lb 4oz, R Fruish 23lb 8oz. Sportsmans (Willow): L Hodges 26lb 4oz, C Leonard 24lb 12oz, R Silverwood 21lb 10oz.

On the carp lakes Darren Stamp of Caister netted a 23lb 4oz mirror at Taswood while at Hall Farm, Burgh Castle the top rods were Gorleston regulars Steve Aldous with 13 carp to 16lb 10oz and David Simmons with half a dozen to 17lb.

The new Angling Trust which was hailed as the great saviour of all forms of rod and line fishing when it was launched in January is struggling to bridge a massive financial gap due to poor recruitment and overspending.

Now the Trust, has been recognised as the sports governing body is to downsize its staff with seven people heading for the door marked redundant.

However, local angling clubs appear perfectly satisfied with the efforts of the Environment Agency who along with the Broads Authority are vigorously freeing up more tidal embankment access in return for the �26.50 rod licence fee with special concessions for juniors, pensioners and disabled.

Sportsman's secretary Lee Arnold will not be surprised by the grim news on the Trust balance sheet, and he has always insisted: “We have a wide range of excellent natural rivers and commercial lakes to choose from, so would local anglers want to spend another �20 a year for the privilege of enjoying what we have already.”