Glen enjoys home banker at Tang Hall

Top of the bill was 24-year-old welterweight Glen Banks, from Huntington, who took a unanimous decision against the experienced James Meath, of Mansfield Amateur Boxing Club.

Meath began by keeping Banks on the end of jabs but the York man countered by slipping inside and firing fast shots. It was toe-to-toe at times, with Banks getting the nod.

Prior to this bout, upcoming All Saint 55kg teenager Luke Atkin, of Burnholme School, beat Manchester's Mark Booth by a unanimous decision to stretch his record to 14 wins from 18 bouts.

Atkin attacked from the off with lightning combinations and Booth ultimately welcomed the final bell.

The first bout of the night had seen Tang Hall 11-year-old Blake Atkin, of Hempland Primary School, perform in a kid gloves contest, a non-decision bout designed to develop youngsters who have never competed in front of a crowd before.

He took on Sam Knight, of St Paul's ABC, Hull, and both boxers, at 39kg, showed good skills.

Next up was a 39kg bout between 13-year-old Andrew Kirkham, of Hemingbrough, and fellow amateur schoolboy debutant Sonny Hetherington, of St Paul's ABC.

Kirkham, a Barlby High School pupil, was forced to box off the back foot but by the end of the second round began to enjoy more success and in the final round matched his opponent, but the judges awarded Hetherington the win.

Millthorpe School pupil James Cooper, 14, of South Bank, took on Steven Redman of Middlesbrough in a close 50kg contest.

Both boxers struggled to gain the advantage with the decision narrowly going against the All Saints teenager.

The fourth bout, a 67kg contest, saw 14-year-old boxer Danny Smith, of Thorner, take on Lee McQuade, of Middlesbrough.

Smith came out firing, pushing back McQuade with hard, straight shots. The Teessider soon gathered momentum and toe-to-toe exchanges ensued, however, Smith still got the nod.

Updated: 10:46 Saturday, April 27, 2002