A Great Yarmouth fishery boss has rescued one of Norfolk's long-establish angling clubs which seemed likely to lose its club lake The Pines because of the sell-off of properties by the Norwich Union Insurance Company.

A Great Yarmouth fishery boss has rescued one of Norfolk's long-establish angling clubs which seemed likely to lose its club lake The Pines because of the sell-off of properties by the Norwich Union Insurance Company.

Darren Layfield, of Barnards Way, has acquired The Pines which is situated next door to his own Layfield Fishery at Lenwade.

And he has announced that he will gladly accommodate the Norwich Union club members on the water they have fished for many years, writes Roy Webster.

The 33-year-old Layfield, who has been confined to a wheelchair following a road traffic accident, set out to secure his own fishery and convert the banks into suitable access for disabled anglers like himself.

He successfully achieved this aim and opened the Layfield Complex this summer.

Commenting on his new acquisition he said: “I have been consulting with the Norwich Union Angling Club and I am happy to announce that we have reached an agreement so that their members can continue to enjoy fishing The Pines where I am certain we can all look forward to a successful new venue.”

Chairman of the Norwich Union Club Mike Hoyland said he was delighted his committee had come to an agreeable arrangement with the new owner of The Pines and added: “Darren Layfield has been very considerate to accommodate us and we are most grateful and look forward to a fruitful future to everyone's mutual advantage.”

A special winter permit starts on September 1 on The Pines. Details on 07917197846.

Great Yarmouth match squad Browning Pownalls staged a superb effort in the final round of the Norwich and District Angling League for teams of four on the River Bure last Sunday.

But despite finishing runners-up up at the end of a fascinating fish-for-fish contest, they had to be content with third place overall in this their first season as an organised match outfit sponsored by Steve Pownall of the Regent Road tackle shop, backed by the national tackle firm Browning.

In the final reckoning Ian Reynolds chalked up a second-placed 56lb 12oz of bream from peg 40 on the St Benet's Abbey stretch, and he was ably supported by team captain Tony Anderson, and colleague Brian Gooch and Adie Hindry who all came in with quality section points for an aggregate of 31.

This score was just two short of final round winners Barford Anglers World on 33 points.

However, morning leaders Sensas Angling Direct were only four section points adrift in third spot on the day, enough to win the series with 75 league points followed by Barford Anglers World on 74 and Browning Pownalls a creditable third with 71.

Other local teams to finish in the top half of the table were Yarmouth Sportsmans fifth on 58 and Gorleston Jolly Boys seventh on 52.

Final round results - Individuals: B Bygraves (Rivermen) 64lb 3oz, I Reynolds (Browning Pownalls) 56lb 2oz, L Murawski (Barford Anglers World) 36lb. Top teams on day: Barford Anglers World 33 points, Browning 31, Sensas Angling Direct 29, Yarmouth Sportsmans and Rivermen both 28.

The previous day Tony Anderson kept the Pownalls squad in contention by winning the Nisa Feedermaster match on the River Yare with 25lb 4oz. On the lakes Jolly Boys' Ray Kent won at Mill Farm on Monday with 84lb 12oz.

Other match results: Burgh Castle open: K Hodgins (Yarmouth) 24lb 4oz, R Silverwood (Sportsmans) 23lb 2oz, L Arnold (Jolly Boys) 18lb 15oz.

Stalham AC (Willow Lake): R Austrin 100lb 4oz, K Patterson 82lb, D Gipson 62lb 6oz.

On the specimen carp lakes Ian Bartram of Hopton visited Hall Farm to reel in 14 doubles, the best a 16½lb common and other successes with fish to the high teens were regulars Jason Brock, Martin Alborough whose 11-year-old son Craig caught his best carp, weighing 8lbs.

At Taswood Caister's Peter Damerall bagged a 24lb 4oz common carp.