Mike Evans-Smith stars for Bethnal Green club in Belfast

Repton renewed rivalry with their old foes from Belfast in the Ulster City on Friday night when their annual match was staged at the Dockers club and produced the usual tight tussle before the travelling squad came through 5-4 winners.

Playing a key role in the Bethnal Green club’s success were England duo Sam McNess and Michael Evans-Smith – both bouncing back from their disappointments on the ABA title trail with good wins in the team tournament.

Light-welterweight McNess took control of his clash with Ulster choice Joe Donaghue, firing two-fisted bursts to keep his rival on the defensive, maintaining the pressure to register a good win.

Powerful light-heavyweight Evans-Smith also had too much class for his Belfast rival Joe Taylor, slamming home solid shots to head and body on his way to a convincing victory.

Chris Ali was another Repton boxer in winning form as he found the target with combination punches to shake Lee Farland in the opening session and although his rival tried to turn the fight, it was the east Londoner staying ahead for another good victory.

George O’Mahoney’s meeting with Jim Kennedy was a hard-fought affair with both boxers trading solid shots but the Repton boxer wore his rival down as he punched out a points win.

Backing up the success of his clubmates, Bob Foreman proved too good for Eddie Connor in their clash, but Repton’s long-serving Ryan Pickard took a count in the final round against John Corcoran and it looked to have cost him victory over the Belfast boxer.

Repton were unhappy with the verdict that went against Tommy Tear at the end of his clash with Chris Forward and thought that guest heavyweight Robin Dupr� from Dagenham BC had done enough to defeat Terry Devenny but once again the Belfast boxer got the decision.

John Guinn also finished on the wrong end of the judges’ verdict after a keenly fought clash with home favourite Jimmy Ware.