Burnley’s Sandygate Amateur Boxing Club and Clayton Amateur Boxing Club made the long journey to Tipperary – but it was a trip worth making.

The two club sent a 12-man squad to take on an Irish Select at Thurles Boxing Club.

First up was unbeaten Burnley prospect Joe Crawford,11, against the much fancied S Cairns of Loughmahon BC.

Straight from the off Crawford was not giving any space cutting the ring down connecting well with point scoring body shots and quick combinations to the target giving the more experienced Cairns no room to box.

It was a similar story in the second and third and it was to no ones surprise when the Wellfield Primary Pupil hand was raised the winner.

Micky Chippendale, 16, of Sandygate was next up against Tipperary local J Hamersley of host club Thurles BC in what turned out to be a cracking bout.

And it was Hameldon’s Chippendale who carried on the winning start connecting, scoring well with quick combination to get the judges decision.

North West ABA Schoolboy Champion Brett Windle, 14, narrowly lost out to Irish Champ N O’Sulllivan of Bally Duff BC and Harle Syke’s Will Smith, 15, also missed out on a majority verdict against local S Spillane.

Charlie Martin, 16, got the East Lancashire contingent back to winning way against the strong Dublin-based Championship boxer E Mills of Drimnagh BC.

Martin upped his workrate as the bout wore on and the ferocity of his attacks proved too much for Mills who was forced in to a standing count of eight in the second round and stopped in the third after the referee stepped in for another standing count.

England International and former ABA Schoolboy National Champion Sam Tucker made a welcome return to the ring with the 16-year-old pitted in against T Donoughe of Cashal BC.

And Tucker proved to be just too classy for the Irish youngster who was disqualified in the final round for connecting illegally with the Burnley fighter miles ahead on the scorecard.

Reagan Driver, 14, narrowly lost on points to Dublin’s E Batiuk of Ballina BC and NW ABA Light welterweight champion Joe Knight, 20, was at the end of the wrong decision against M Noonan of Rivers Town BC.

Brandon Hartley, 16, and Calum Rainey, 17, both made the long journey to Tipperary but lost out to the scales as both boys opponents weighed in to heavy.

The two Clayton ABC boxers had mixed fortunes with Harry Magee, 18, winning a cracking affair showing just why he is so highly rated, but Bobby Brown,16, lost on his ring debut.