LEIGH Amateur Boxing Club provided four boxers for a combined Lancashire/Yorkshire side that faced a Preston City Select Team at Preston Guildhall.

Westleigh High School's 15-year-old flyweight Martin Pilkington was the first Leigh boxer on show and faced his hardest task so far in the unbeaten Eddie Stokes.

The Preston youngster found in Pilkington a boxer bouyed by recent winning performances and Martin took every round in gaining an impressive points win.

Light welterweight Tony Parr was next into the ring, stepping through the ropes for the first time in two years, and was paired with the experienced Mick Hall.

In a performance full of heart and determination, Tony could never quite unlock an excellent defence, the Preston boxer taking a deserved points win.

Next on the bill was Leigh's rapidly improving middleweight Rory Roberts taking on Preston boxer Matt Clarkson.

From the first bell Rory was scoring with the cleaner shots and despite Clarkson's messy defensive tactics without doubt had taken the first two rounds and a clear lead. A closer third round followed but Roberts again rocked the Preston boxer in the final seconds. Then came the most controversial decision of the night with the home boxer being awarded a majority decision.

The penultimate bout of the evening saw Leigh ABC's heavyweight Mick German taking on Preston's Billy Hodson. In probably the most exciting three rounds on the bill Hodson took an early lead with some excellent shot selection and though Mick scored with some powerful single shots there was no doubt the Leigh lad needed a big final round.

In a pulsating third round Mick finally began to impose his will and power, and with some excellent uppercuts and hooks forced the referee to administer two standing eight counts to Hodson. As the final bell rang a close majority decision went the way of the Preston boxer.