REPTON will send five boxers through to the Junior ABA finals in Liverpool this weekend with high hopes of maintaining their tradition of success in the event. A trio of victories and two walkover wins at the semi-finals in Gillingham last weekend ensured

REPTON will send five boxers through to the Junior ABA finals in Liverpool this weekend with high hopes of maintaining their tradition of success in the event.

A trio of victories and two walkover wins at the semi-finals in Gillingham last weekend ensured that the Bethnal Green club will send five hopefuls to the Everton Park Sports Centre on Saturday.

Lerrone Richards, Sam McNess and Brett Beadon clinched victories on Sunday and they will be joined by Mo Raza and Martin Ward, who both received byes to progress to the finals.

Richards made short work of Sporting Ring club rival Jake Ball, slamming home a barrage of telling shots in the opening round to force a double-quick stoppage.

McNess continued to show promising form on the national stage by defeating Scott Wilson, from Devon's Mayflower boxing club, to progress to the national finals.

Beadon also displayed winning form in his semi-final match-up against a Western Counties titleholder, as the Repton prospect proved too good for Bideford's Jack Langford and extended the Bethnal Green club's semi-final success run.

But there was disappointment for Michael McCarthy, who made a bold late effort to upset the odds against Greg Evans, from the Golden Ring club, only for the judges to rule the Repton club hopeful a narrow loser at the final bell.

Repton's George Langley also saw his national title ambitions brought to a halt at the last-four stage when John Kennedy, from Shepway, battled to a points verdict.

Repton's John Ward will not be joining brother Martin in the national finals after he was forced to withdraw from the semi-finals with weight problems.

It is the second time in nine months that the younger Ward brother has had his title dreams knocked out by the scales.

The teenager also had to withdraw from the England team to compete in the European Schoolboys championships in September after struggling to control his weight.

Stepney youngster Des Johnson was in winning form for Newham boxing club when he travelled to a meeting in Birmingham on Friday night.

Johnson showed bright form to earn a points verdict over talented Midlands rival Jamie Foster.