WATCHET Physical Training and Amateur Boxing Club boxers Reuben Walter and Tom Bale competed against boxers from Chard ABC at the Holyrood School in Chard last Saturday.

For both Watchet boxers it was their first competitive bout and they both demonstrated skills, grit and determination in front of an audience that supported the Chard boxers. One Watchet boxer was to lose by a majority decision and one Watchet boxer was to win by a majority decision.

Tom Bale boxed Charlie Bevan (Chard) and provided a close hard fought contest with both boxers showing grit and determination in abundance. Bale and Bevan were equally matched in their will to win and in their demonstration of defensive and attacking skills. Bale won the contest on a majority decision.

Reuben Walter did not get the decision in his contest against Finn Kruszynski, of Chard . Both demonstrated controlled aggression when exchanging blows to head and body, with neither able to dominate. It was a close hard fought contest. Neither boxer prepared to retreat, despite the number of punches going each way. The Chard boxer, Kruszynski, gained victory by a majority decision.

Watchet boxing coach, David Steel, aided by Wellington boxing coach, Pat Jones, former Watchet boxer and champion in the 1960s and 70s - provided the corner work to Bale and Reuben.