HOLLAND Shore Boxing Club's Trez Thomas is through to the National Development Championship finals.

He outpointed Tariq Bello, from the East London Boxing Academy, in the semi-finals in Swindon.

The loose, relaxed Bello got off to a fine start, keeping the rugged Thomas at bay with sharp left hands and good foot movement.

Things began to change in the second round as Thomas began closing down the ring on Bello, connecting with hurtful body shots to slow his opponent down.

With one round apiece and one round to go, Thomas upped his work-rate again as Bello began to tire, opening up with a continuous, heavy combination workrate to win a convincing points decision.

Also reaching the National Development semi-finals in Swindon was young Blake Housman, who lost out after a fiery and gutsy performance when up against Rumbles' Zackery Phee.

Holland Shore, now based at the Fight Fit Systems, also had four other boys boxing over the weekend, with first Bruce Leonard showing ever-improving confidence and ability when competing in a skills contest against Newham's John Massey.

Boxing on his own club show, Massey tried hard but Leonard controlled the action in all three rounds with his with his loose, relaxed style and heavy combinations.

Also on for Holland Shore and on a Smokies show was young Harry Wigfall, who dropped a close points decision when up against Belvedere's Callum Cook.

Cook got off to a good first round, keeping up a high workrate, but Wigfall was also scoring with sharp combination.

The second was a tough round for both lads as hurtful combinations hit home.

The third round followed in the same manner with no-one wanting to give ground as hurtful punches connected, with Wigfall losing out on a close points decision.

Also on the Smokies show and showing fine form was young Archie Bayford, in a skills bout.

Up against Canvey's Jake Paveley, the contest was soon over as a sharp combination hit home and a heavy nosebleed from Paveley, which took time to clear, resulted in the Canvey boy being pulled out.

Last up for Holland Shore over the weekend was Troy Housman, up against Canvey's Billy Wink.

Housman, having his second skills in seven days, showed good foot movement in a lively first round.

In the second, he began settling his feet before opening up with classy combinations to keep the Canvey lad in a defensive mode.

In the third, Housman slowed the workrate down but still controlled the action, while looking towards his third skills contest this season next week.