THE competitors in the Braintree Club Sweep on Ash Grounds had to get the ice breakers out for the first time.

Reece Hearn offered to clear the swims while the draw was sorted and he got his reward, as he drew peg two and went on to win the match with a net of roach and skimmers weighing 22-15-0.

Sections (excluding winner): 1 B Walker 8-5-0, 2 P Thompson 14-13-0.

The first round of the Huit Cup was switched from Hill and Black to Hobbs Croft as it was felt it would give better fishing with more roach to be caught.

Julian Collop caught throughout the match on various baits to win the round with 16-4-8 of roach skimmers and perch.

The only carp landed went to Aaron Gould, who added roach and perch to give him 13-9-8 in second and a section win.

Sections (excluding winner): 1 A Gould, 2 P Thompson 13-3-8, 3 J Daniels 6-1-0.

The two most recent Friday Braintree Club matches at Notley have been fished in almost summer-like conditions, with little wind and warm temperatures.

The first saw no carp landed and Jim Loosley needed just 4-8-0 of silvers to win from John Daniels, who weighed 2-3-0.

Last Friday, Kevin Howell had six F1s, plus silvers for an 11-8-0 total.

Loosley landed a carp with his silvers to boost him to 7-10-0 and second.

On Sunday, the Braintree Club's Christmas Match will take place on the Fennes Ash Grounds lake and one section on Hobbs Croft.