BOXING: VAUXHALL Motors ABC secured a double victory last Wednesday as two of the club's youngsters travelled to Sheffield.

First up, Mason Cartwright defeated J Benson from the newly-formed Leyland ABC in Lancashire by a unanimous points decision.

Coach Peter Phelan said: 'It was a tricky start for Mason who suffers from asthma and he was unhappy with the smoky conditions. He's just 11 years old but he made the referee aware of the problem and an announcement was made over the public address system asking the spectators to refrain from smoking.

'From then on, Mason used his strong left jab and worked well behind it. He showed a bit of maturity and stuck to the task, catching his opponent with a couple of right-handers.'

Buster Exell was also in action and overcame W McAloon from the highlyrated Spennymoor ABC, also by a unanimous verdict.

Phelan said: 'Despite giving away a few kilos to his opponent, Buster controlled the contest well. George Treble was in his corner and told him not to mix it but keep his hands and feet going nice and fast. Buster kept the speed up and his opponent couldn't live with him, despite being a bit stronger.'

Vauxhall Motors ABC's Matty Fagan has also returned from the Steel City after attending his first England call-up, training with the national cadet squad.

Nick MacDonald is hoping to be fit for the final Olympic qualifiers in Azerbaijan at the end of April after suffering a reoccurrence of the thumb injury he picked up at the Adidas Cup. MacDonald caught the thumb for a second time while in light sparring work three weeks ago but hopes to be out of plaster within the next seven days.

Vauxhall Motors ABC are looking to give debut contests to novices Tom Riley, 12, and senior welterweights Graham Lee and Paul Basnett. Also poised for action are Lee Taylor and Andy Pinkham, who have both returned to the club.