IT'S getting tighter at the top of the Lancashire Winter League after BAS Image could not repeat recent good form in last Sunday's round on the Bridgewater Canal at Sale.

That means the Bolton based match team go into the final round neck and neck on 10 points with favourites Keenets Northwest.

Saints are in third place after they took advantage of an end peg draw on an under par canal to win Sunday's fifth round with 35 points, just ahead of Keenets North West, who scored 38 points.

Individually Paul Blinkhorn of Tri Cast Highfield but fishing in the extras on the day, won a peg to peg battle at the motorway wides with regular framer Steve Wilson of Lostock Tackle Box. Paul weighed 5-0-9 to just edge out Steve, who caught 5-0-2. Third was Vinnie Smith of Tri Cast Highfield with 4-0-6. Others: 4 Steve Crossley (Extras) 3-13-0, 5 Steve Boyd-Saints 3-11-15, 6 Stu Conroy-Keenets North West 3-6-13.

Teams on the Day: 1 Saints 35, 2 Keenets North West 38,

3 Protak Leyland 42, 4 Ted Carter Southport 56, 5 BAS Image 60, 6 Lostock Tackle 62, 7 Tri Cast Highfield 64,

8 Ted Carter Preston 65, 9 Tri Cast Calder 70, 10 Elton Tackle 76, 11 Lostock Shop 90.

Overall: 1= BAS Image and Keenets North West 10, 3 Saints 17, 4 Ted Carter Southport 21, 5 Protak Leyland 29, 6 Tri Cast Highfield 32, 7= Lostock Tackle Box and Tri Cast Calder 34, 9 Ted Carter Preston 39, 10 Elton Tackle 45, 11 Lostock Shop 55.