Nine Repton boxers clinched their place in the ABA National Schools’ finals at Everton Park Sports Centre, Liverpool, on March 2-3 after coming through their semi-final contests at Portsmouth last weekend.

More tough tests lie ahead when they face the northern area winners on Merseyside, but the impressive line-up of finalists give the Bethnal Green club high hopes of again clinching the highest number of national titles.

Their successes last weekend again featured bright performances from the Class One boys seeking their first national victories – including Jamal Khan and Henry Turner who provided double trouble for the Healey twins from the Chadwell St Mary BC.

Khan continued his impressive form on the championship trail and it proved too much for Jake Healey in the 40kg contest as the Repton boxer took a majority verdict. In the next weight division, it was Jay Healey from the Chadwell St Mary Club who was eliminated after another keenly fought contest when another sharp-hitting display from Turner took the honours at 42kg.

Sparkling again, Repton’s John Lee howed his class in the 30kg semi-final as he dominated the exchanges against gallant opponent George Webb from the Allcomers BC for a unanimous points win.

Also moving through in the youngest section, talented duo Rakhim Tatou and Syed Hussan received walkovers into the finals.

Repton’s Class Two hope Jessedean Harris, a 2012 national finalist, outscored Bracknell rival Reece Elliott in a keenly fought 63kg encounter, landing the effective shots in every round to make sure of the verdict.

Previous national champions Levi Lee and Levi Coates underlined their ambitions to reign again as they produced sparkling victories in the southern semi-finals.

Lee’s meeting with Allcomers rival Charlie Webb saw the east London club hope take control, finding the gaps in his rival’s defences to clinch a well-deserved verdict in their Class Three 38kg bout.

Coates also produced a classy display to subdue Brentwood BC entry George Harrison as he booked another national final spot in the Class Three 40kg section.

Another Repton hope going through into a Class Three final, Paddy Ward eliminated Luton rival Francis Storey with a solid display in their 52kg semi-final.

However, there were disappointments for Repton entries including tight points verdicts going against previous national champions Michael Oates and Tommy Ball.

Club supporters thought that 2012 winner Oates had done enough to take the honours in his Class Two 34kg encounter with James Bowers (Pinewood Star), but the verdict went to the Home Counties champion.

Ball was hotly tipped for his third national title in succession, but was also voted a narrow loser in his Class Three 66kg duel with Ryan Adair (Campol).

In a Class One 38kg encounter, Jesse Beck dropped the verdict against talented rival Jerry Ray (Pinewood Star), while at 57kg Tye Davies (Sandy) eliminated Repton’s Ben Gentle.