BERINSFIELD enjoyed mixed fortunes in the Home Counties round of the National Schoolboy Championships.

Gerard Ward picked up an impressive victory in his bout, but Alfie Sims was out of luck.

Ward had a height and reach advantage over his opponent and put it to good use in class two of the under 59kg event.

Ward started strongly against Terry Stichbury, from Milton Keynes Victors ABC, switching his shots to head and body.

He caught Stichbury with a perfect right hook to the body just before the bell at the end of the first round, which prompted an eight count.

He stayed on the front foot and a clean blow saw his rival face another standing eight count in round two.

Soon afterwards Stichbury’s corner threw in the towel as Ward recorded a convincing success.

He now goes on to face last season’s champion Ty Davis, from Sandy ABC, in the Home Counties final on the Academy Luton ABC show on Saturday, March 8.

Sims was unfortunate with the draw, which saw him face reigning champion Hassan Azim in the first round.

The Pinewood Star ABC fighter, very tall for the class two under 48kg category, kept the Berinsfield boxer at long range in the opening round, comfortably seeing off any attacks.

However, Sims showed great battling qualities in round two, pushing his opponent back, landing straight rights to head and body to easily secure the round.

Both boys went all out in the finale, catching each other with clean shots.

But Azim was slightly on top and he was given the verdict by the judges.