LEON Field left nothing to chance to take a third successive Midland Counties title in the Royal Navy Schools ABA Championships.

After seeing his close friend go out of the competition on a disputed points decision, the 14-year-old Alfreton fighter needed less than a minute to make sure of his place in the next stage.

Field had the edge in experience in his class three 52kg bout against Kaine Palmer of Hall Green and also looked much stronger from the start.

Palmer had to take a standing count after only 30 seconds and, as Field stepped up the pressure, the referee stopped the contest shortly after.

He faces a much tougher challenge in a pre-quarter-final match against the Yorkshire division next weekend, where he takes on 14-fight unbeaten Danny Ryott of Rotherham club Malthouse.

The only other Derbyshire boxer through the next stage is Merlin's Rizwan Akhtar, who was handed another walkover by the late withdrawal of another opponent.

That leaves Akhtar short of action as he heads for a class three 42kg contest against the youngster who put him out at the same stage last season, Cory O'Regan of Meanwood, a 2008 finalist.

The defeat that inspired Field's early finish was that of Royal Oak's Connor Parker in class three 50kg.

Parker, a finalist in the competition last season, pressed forward constantly, as usual, and connected with hooks and jabs throughout.

But opponent Joe Foster of Chelmsley Wood was 4-0 at the end of the first round on the much-maligned computer scoring system.

By the end of the second, Parker trailed 6-1 and the final score of 8-2 was harsh at best.

Merlin's second representative in the Midlands finals at Retford was Jake Morgan but the 12-year-old found the bigger and more experienced Joseph Palmer of Hall Green too much to handle in their class one 32kg final.

Palmer's punches carried more force from the start and took him to a 10-0 points win.

Chesterfield's Ashley Eden started strongly in class two 54kg against Harry Butler of Droitwich but lost his way in the later stages and lost 3-2.

Hayden Clarke, the first boxer to wear the Pilsley vest in a championship event, saw his involvement end with a 1-0 defeat in class two 40kg.

Up against Connor Jones of Lions, who came to the bout with an 18-2 record, the only scoring shot came in the first round but there was no disputing the outcome.

Pilsley, Derbyshire's youngest club, are set to move following news that their base at the Commercial Inn is to close.

The club are to relocate at the Pro Fitness gym on High Street in Clay Cross and a change of name is likely to follow.