Southpaw Max Kirkwood delivered the lone victory for the Banbury Spit ‘n’ Sawdust in their ten-bout tournament at the Spiceball Leisure complex.

A series of strategic straight lefts proved the deciding factor as the Banbury boxer claimed a unanimous decision against Connor Hartridge, of Jubilee ABC.

Banbury’s Ashley Crane lost to Jubilee opponent Harry Pearce on a majorrity verdict.

And schoolboy debutant Jake McDonald was unlucky not to get the nod after a pulsating battle with Tewkesbury’s Ryan Green.

A late rally from Shane Smith could not erode the lead established by High Wycombe welterweight Chekezie Ibe.

Gary Bentley made a game effort to reverse the tide after a slow start, but his determined effort was not enough to claw back the lead of Wycombe’s Newman Brown. And there was disappointment for Blackbird Leys light-middleweight Tom Daglish.

A late public warning proved decisive in handing victory to his Wycombe rival against Courtney Frimpong.

The tournament was staged in tribute to Ken Reynolds, the man who revived amateur boxing in the Banbury before his death earlier this year.

l THE Home Counties round of the senior novices competition will be held today at the Regal in Cowley Road, Oxford.