8:30am Thursday 21st January 2010
Walcot ABC’s Callum Wells and Tommy McDonagh both won their first round contests in the National Schoolboys Championship at Cinderford in the Forest of Dean, writes DAVE VEYSEY.
Thirteen-year-old Wells came up against last season’s national finalist Aston Grant from Barton Hill in Bristol.
From the opening bell the Dorcan pupil stayed close to the taller Grant, and landed with fast left jabs and straight rights.
For three rounds young Wells gave the Bristolian no room to get his shots off, and his constant pressure and high work rate led to a majority points victory.
He said: “I am delighted to have beaten a national finalist from last season.
“It was tough but my fitness saw me through. I’m now looking forward to the Western Counties final.”
Club mate McDonagh met Luke Smith from Chard ABC in Somerset.
The former national schools champion was taking part in his first contest in over eight months, and understandably looked a little ring rusty during the opening exchanges.
The second round saw the 15-year-old settle into a better rhythm and catch his opponent with hard straight rights and heavy left hooks.
The final round was all one way traffic as McDonagh piled on the pressure to record a comfortable, unanimous points success.
“I’m glad to have finally had a bout after an eight month gap,” said McDonagh afterwards.
“I know I can perform better than that but I’m pleased to have won.”
Walcot boxers Cullum Large and Patrick McDonagh, both 12, went through to the next round without lacing a glove.
Also chalking up a victory fror Walcot was Tommy’s younger brother Jimmy.
The 11-year-old was making his ring debut as a support bout to the championship contests, and he met debutant Morgan Hart from Downend ABC in Bristol.
After a scrappy opening round, the pint-sized Walcot terrier scored with left jabs and straight rights for the remainder of the contest to record a comfortable points victory.
Chief coach Harry Scott was delighted with his team, saying: “I’m pleased with all three lads. They are all training hard in the gym and all won their bouts in style.”
Meanwhile, Penhill amateur boxing club's Louis Trinder went out of this year’s schoolboy championships on a majority decision against Thomas Williams from Downend ABC. Trinder landed the cleaner punches and kept Williams at arm’s length throughout the first and second rounds as the bout turned into a somewhat cagey affair. But in the third round the Bristol boy battled back gamely to secure a narrow points decision, despite a good performance from Trinder throughout the fight.
Penhill have two young fighters in the Western Counties finals.
James Richards is due to square up to Joe Simpson from Pilgrims ABC and Curtis Bowers has the luxury of a bye, taking him through to the schoolboy pre-quarter-finals.
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