The British Record Fish list is fast becoming an absolute mockery.

The most controversial topic in angling today has to be the saga of the massive barbel that holds star billing in the Great Ouse above Bedford.

The fish spends more time on the bank posing for the cameras than it does in the water!

Hot on the heels of Martin Bowler claiming the crown a fortnight ago with the big barbel at 1`6lb 13oz comes news of the same fish being landed at a thumping 17lb 03oz.

Kevin Newton, 36, from Rainham in Essex fished the very same swim and used the same paste as Martin Bowler had done previously and to make the capture of this fish even more ironic who do you think was on hand to witness and weight Kevin's new record, you've got it, Martin Bowler himself.

"I had to be up at 4am to get to the water before it opened at 7am. I had a line bite early on but nothing until the big one turned up at noon," said Kevin.

That `big one' whacked the scales around to an amazing 17lb 03oz and is definitely the same fish Martin Bowler banked at 16lb 13oz.

The weight increase is entirely due to the vast amount of bait thrown at this particular stretch of the river by the circus of glory seekers thronging there since Martin's record barbel hit the headlines.

The fish's latest trip to the landing net is sure to stir further disapproval from specimen anglers who firmly believe that the same fish should feature only once in the record list to eliminate the hoards of pot-hunters who invade every water that throws up a potential heavyweight.

This fish has now been caught at least nine times this season by different anglers and surely pours scorn on the record books as it shows it is obviously not the most difficult barbel in the world to catch and personally I would give more credit to a 13 from the Kennet or an 11 pounder from the Swale.

The time for the powers that be to act is right now to maintain the credibility of our sport.

Green hosts first game

The first rugby match to be played on Twickenham Green this century will be on Saturday, at 10.30am, when Thamesians take on the Harlequins Gents as a curtain raiser for England v Scotland International.

The last time that an organised game of rugby was played on Twickenham Green Queen Victoria was still on the throne. On Saturday Twickenham's local side Thamesians will take on what promises to be an all-star Harlequin Gents side.

Harlequin Gents usually manage to put out a strong team of former international and club players and this promises to be an exciting and historic occasion.

The clubhouse will be open for refreshments all day and there is giant screen viewing for those unlucky enough to be without big match tickets but who want to watch the matches.

Thamesians have managed to produce two former internationals themselves, Bob Mordell (England) and Graeme Birkett (Scotland) as well as a former Harlequins skipper and Barbarian in Adrian Alexander. Now Thamesians hope that by bringing a higher profile to the club through having permission to bring rugby back to Twickenham Green, they will attract more young players that they can help achieve their rugby promise.

Corcoran's golden day

Esher 49

Cheltenham 23

Esher entertained a struggling Cheltenham side on Saturday and emphasised the gulf between top and bottom of the league with this fine victory.

Michael Corcoran scored 34 points as he ran in four tries and took over the kicking duties from Jon Gregory who had a well deserved break in Barcelona.

The first half was a little nip and tuck with Esher taking a 15-3 lead into the break following tries by Ciaran Bird and Michael Corcoran. Corcoran also adding a conversion and a penalty.

Cheltenham tried to put up resistance but were up against an Esher side determined to stay in pole position. Indeed the half time margin should have been greater but for some unusually poor handling by the Esher backs. In the second half Esher got the plot correct and ran riot.

The second half scoring was opened by Corcoran penalty followed by two successful penalties from Cheltenham. Replacement scrum half Richard Goodwin then scored the first of Esher's five second half tries in the 53rd minute, Corcoran then followed up on 57 and 60 minutes with the second and third of his four tries. Cheltenham got one try back on 65 minutes but was immediately cancelled out by Esher centre Kevin Marchant.

Esher's concentration wandered and Cheltenham went over again to bring the score to 42-23.

Again Esher increased the pace and Corcoran scored his fourth try. Corcoran converted bringing his match tally to four tries, four conversions and two penalties, and a match total of 34 points.

Agyarko at the double

Old Rutlishians 33

Old Haileyburians 18

The last time that these two sides met, it was on a wet windswept afternoon in October when Rutlishians managed to grind out a league win by 13 points to 6.

On Saturday, the fixture was a friendly, the conditions were crisp but dry and both sides elected to throw the ball around. It made for an entertaining - though exhausting - afternoon which featured only three lineouts in the entire 80 minutes!

Rutlishians clear strengths this season have been the running of number eight, Lee Gregory, from the base, and the pace of wingers, Fred Agyarko and Graham Blenman. A game like this was tailor-made for them, and Gregory duly opened the scoring, as he burst over from five metres. Agyarko's two scores were made by skilfully angled kicks from fly-half. Ian Baxter, while Blenman appeared in the line and picked one off his toes to beat the cover. The two wingers have now scored 21 tries between them this season, with Agyarko leading 11-10, but until now Ruts have lacked a centre with the skill to offer an alternative threat.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.