EASTGATE’S boxers shared the spoils with their opponents when the Rougham-based amateur boxing club put on a dinner show at Great Welnetham on Friday night.

The hosts came away with three victories from six bouts - all of which went to points - with 13-year-oold Sam Williams, Jake Dykstra, 14 and Sudbury Middle School pupil, 14-year-old Tommy Taylor earning positive decisions.

Their team-mates, junior, Ryan Day and seniors Karl Allen and Ricky Zdrenka narrowly lost their bouts on an exciting night of action which saw clubs from Lowestoft and Hurstlea also take part.

Sam used his right hand to good effect to notch his first win with a fine display outpointing Ethan Thurling from Attleborough, while Jake gained an impressive win over Ben Channing from the March club.

Former Repton lad Ben had held an earlier win over Jake but found the Bury-based Liverpudlian used his ring movement to good effect, catching his opponent with textbook uppercuts, although his opponent showed great determination and landed good punches of his own.

Tommy found St. Ives Scott Pepper a formidable opponent and whilst Taylor took the early rounds, the St.Ives boxer came back well in the final round in what proved to be a very close bout that could have gone either way.

Eastgate’s other junior Ryan Day fought well against the more experienced Reece Wade from Lowestoft ABC who had superior reach advantage which he used to good effect. Day worked hard throughout the bout but Wade always had the edge to secure the points victory .

There were 10 senior bouts with Eastgate boxers Allen and Zdrenka suffering defeats against Tom Martin (St.Ives) and Aaron Spenner (Essex University). Both proved to be lively contests. Ashley Bray from the Hurstlea club put in some good work to secure a points victory over Steve Perry from Royston ABC.

Meanwhile, Jake Dykstra was in action the week before when he put on a very mature display of boxing against West Ham’s highly-rated Billy Andrews in a three round contest at East Ham Working Men’s Club.

The first round was close with both boxers waiting to counter punch but in the second round, Andrews forced the pressure initially with the Bury boxer countering and using his footwork to good effect and landing good accurate punches through the guard of his opponent.

In the third, the West Ham boxer came striaght out thowing punches through the middle. Jake weathered the early attack well and responded with superior punching and use of footwork to secure the judges’ verdict in an evening, when out of 14 bouts, Jake was the only one to secure a reversal against the West Ham corner.

Dewy Taylor, Eastgate’s Light-Middleweight found England International Luke Copping a formidable opponent when he faced him in the CYP Championships at Harlow Stadium in a four-round contest. Whilst the Eastgate boxer put in a spirited display, Copping, from the Brentwood club, always had the upper hand.

Eastgate show

(All points victories)

Alfie Drum (Chadwell) v Mark Croxall (Attleborough) Skills bout; Sam Williams (Eastgate) bt Ethan Thurling (Attleborough); Ryan Day (Eastgate) lst to Reece Wade (Lowestoft); Jack Hearn (Essex Uni) lst to Ethan Hutchings (Attleborough); Jake Dykstra (Eastgate) bt Ben Channing (March); Tommy Taylor (Eastgate) bt Scott Pepper (St Ives); Levi Dennis (Attleborough) bt Cameron Wade (Lowestoft); M Hussan (Welland) lst to S Snelling (Arena); G Williams (Arena) by L Mecanie (Campol); George Davis (Southend) bt Billy Innis (Loweestoft); Ricky Zdrenka (Eastgate) bt Aaron Spencer (Attleborough); D Camelari (Aylsham) by M Millunhs (Attleborough); Ashley Bray (Hurstlea) bt Steve Perry (Royston); Alex Dennis (Attleborough) lst to Krisjanis Loginovs (Wisbech); Karl Allen (Eastgate) lst to Tom Martin (St.Ives); Robert Ferguson (Attleborough) lst to Chris Redding (Southend); Jordan Warne (Hurstlea) lst to Ben Dalton (Attleborough)