The Erne Boxing Club had a successful first overseas outing of 2019 winning the team match against the Yorkshire Boxing Team at the Selby Boxing Academy tournament in Ricall, North Yorkshire last weekend.

Kevin Tierney, Rhys Owens, Dawid Roguska and Joe Gannon scored points victories to earn the team a 4-3 win after Caoilfhionn Crowley, Ewan Suttle and Cameron Suttle suffered narrow reverses.

Erne Boxing Club Head Coach Sean Crowley summed up the team’s performance:

“To win a team match overseas is always very gratifying but on this occasion it was an even bigger achievement as we competed mainly with our development squad including four boxers competing overseas for the very first time.

“Kevin Tierney and Dawid Roguska have now both scored back-to-back wins and are making good progress. Rhys Owens was on fire this weekend and put in a great performance but the star of the team was Joe Gannon who defeated a heavier and previously unbeaten opponent.

“Joe has now won five the trot (including three wins in as many weeks) and has improved immensely since losing his Ulster Novice final last October. He has now developed into a seasoned boxer and ready to step up to Senior level.”

Caoilfhionn Crowley was first in action against Jessica Keeton (Scunthorpe Boxing Club), after a slow started Crowley finished strong but Keeton landed with the better shots and was a worthy winner by a unanimous points decision.

In the next contest Kevin Tierney scored his second consecutive win in as many weeks to level the match. Tierney used his height and reach advantages to overcome the very strong and game Ashden MacKintosh (Seacroft Boxing Club) by a unanimous points decision. MacKintosh was strong and squat but Tierney adeptly avoided his wild swings and landed with enough punches to secure the win over his Leeds opponent.

Ewan Suttle started his contest nervously and just couldn’t find his range against Kameron Dodds (City of Hull Boxing Club). Dodds pressed the action and outfought Suttle in all three rounds to earn a deserved unanimous points win.

Rhys Owens was next in action against Connor Kiligton (Meanwood Boxing Club) and he started the contest at a frantic pace. His constant pressure nearly overwhelmed his opponent who was forced to take a standing count in round one. Kiligton recovered and fought back gamely in the next two rounds to keep it competitive but Owens was a clear winner by a unanimous decision.

Cameron Suttle once again was involved in a war-of-attrition and battled hard in all three rounds in another crowd pleasing contest against Brodie Carrol (Seacroft Boxing Club). The Erne boxer felt he had done more than enough but agonisingly the split decision went in favour of the Leeds boxer.

With the Erne Boxing Club 3-2 down going into the final two contests their was added pressure on Dawid Roguszka who faced the host club’s Luke Healer (Selby Boxing Academy). Healer started the contest well winning the first round and made the better start to the second.

However, Roguszka suddenly found the target with a big powerful left hook to rock Healer to his boots and force him to take a count. With the contest in the balance going into the last both combatants gave it their all but on the strength of the second round Roguszka edged home by the narrowest of margins on a split decision.

With the team match now level it was up to Joe Gannon to secure victory against Jordan Farley (Seacroft Boxing Club). Despite conceding weight, Gannon pressed the action and fought with the greater determination throughout. All three rounds were close and tough but Gannon outworked and landed a fraction more punches in all three rounds to earn a close but unanimous points win and secure the team victory 4-3.