Rising star Rushton has a spring in his step
Young Wolverhampton-based up and coming match star Sam Rushton added to his growing reputation by topping the standings in round four of the Wolverhampton AA Individual Spring League.
Rushton (Sensas Black Country) went one better than his runners-up spot in the previous round to claim the spoils on a gin-clear Shropshire Union Canal in Pendeford.
Drawn on fancied peg 10 on the drove way, Rushton pole-fished squatt and pinkie to scale a level 6-0-0 of roach and small skimmers.
Team Eclipse stalwarts made up the rest of the frame with Stoke duo Eric Gardner and Keith Hulland finishing in second and third place respectively with 5-9-6 and 4-8-3.
At the halfway stage of this tightly-contested league, Penkridge's Dean Williams (Team Eclipse) has now taken over the lead on 13 points, with Neil Turner (Wolverhampton AA VDE) hot on his heels with 14. Four Ashes AC's Mel Wood follows on 15.
The irrepressible Penkridge matchman Dave Brown notched up his eighth win of the year at Preston Innovations Boldings Pools in Bridgnorth.
Brown (Maver Midlands) landed the Chestnut and Sycamore Pools open with 70-10-0 of carp to 5lb, snared on poled bread, fished down the sides and caster and maggot presented shallow off Chestnut peg 13.
Sycamore produced the next two weights with Pendeford-based retired postman Phil Rhodes (PI Boldings) just finishing 4oz adrift with 70-6-0 from peg 35, leaving Kelvin Emlyn (OAC) in third with 66-14-0 at peg 13.
Penkridge-based Barry Lewis had cause for a double celebration in the Goodyear AC match around the Chestnut Pool at Preston Innovations Boldings Pools in Bridgnorth.
Lewis topped the event on peg 27 for a golden peg win.
Deploying the bomb with 8mm pellet into the corner, Lewis banked 18 carp for a resounding success with 56-0-0.
Bob Cook came second with 25-0-0 from peg 25, pipping club treasurer Steve Thomson into third with 24-10-0 at peg 29.
