Josh Kelly avenged his defeat to Thomas Beaney in the CYP finals to take home the National Junior ABA title.

Last year Kelly lost out to the West Ham boxer by three points but he took full advantage of his chance for revenge by dominating this rematch, winning by a clear 11 point margin.

Kelly was fantastic. He worked well with his jab, was quick to the punch as Beaney stepped in and in the latter stages picked it up and started throwing more punches to the head and body.

The Houghton boxer said: “I feel I boxed great. I was fit and strong and boxed well behind the jab. Since he narrowly beat me in the CYP finals by three points and is a decent boxer, to win comfortably by 11 points was unreal.

“Next year I’m eligible for the senior ABA’s and I’ve already started fighting open seniors. I’ve had two fights, won one and narrowly lost on a majority decision against the senior ABA finalist, so I’m feeling very positive about entering the competition next year.”

As for the rest of this year Josh is looking towards his second Tri-nation title. He is also looking to the future and dreams of making the Olympic Games. He said: “The ultimate dream in any amateur boxer’s career is to reach the Olympics.

“Now I’m at the top of boxing, I feel as though with a lot of hard work and dedication, I can reach it. After that turning pro and really making my name in boxing would be a dream come true.

“I would just like to thank my Dad, Ray Major and Kenny Allen for all the training and effort they put in, helping me reach these stages. Hopefully there’s more to come.”

For more news and reaction to the Junior ABA Championships click here.

Image: Kelly gets advice in the corner during his Junior ABA final bout against Thomas Beaney.

Team GB development boxer Isaac Macleod took another step towards his Olympic dream by winning his fourth English title in Wakefield on Saturday.

Macleod put in another dominant performance against West Ham’s Jordan Reynolds and took the fight on a points score of 23-15. It was his fourth consecutive title and the second year in a row he has defeated Reynolds in the final.

MacLeod vs Reynolds in the Junior ABA final

He said: “I am over the moon with what I have achieved. It’s taken four years. Most people dream of just the one English title.

“I boxed well but I still feel there is room for improvement. I hurt my hand at the end of the first round which didn’t help, but I just had to improvise and adapt my technique.

“Only me and my coach knew my hand was injured. After speaking to people after the fight they told me they didn’t even realise I had injured my hand as it didn’t affect my performance or the victory.”

Macleod has been consistent throughout the tournament and in this bout he was once again dominant in all three rounds.

Reynolds is a tough opponent but Macleod displayed great skill and tactical awareness by picking shots well and throwing good combination punches.

Macleod always looked in control of the fight and the crowning glory came in the third when he landed a sweet left hook to the head.

The Sunderland ABC boxer is part of the Team GB development squad and is being trained and conditioned with a view to participating in future Commonwealth and Olympic Games. London 2012 is far too soon but Rio in 2016 is more than just a possibility.

Macleod also revealed that after coming second in the World Championships last year he was looking to go one step further this time around.

“Don’t get me wrong it’s an amazing achievement to win another English title but these are mere stepping-stones to what my goal for this year is which is to be world champion.”

For more news and reaction to the Junior ABA Championships in Wakefield click here.

Seaham Rugby FC ended the season in style with a comprehensive victory over Newton Aycliffe in the Durham County Junior Plate final.

Despite a bad day for the kickers, two tries from Jack McCallum and a try apiece for Glen Hardie and Dan Cahill gave Seaham a 25-0 win to give them some silverware along with their promotion to Durham and Northumberland Division Two.

Chairman Neil Roseberry said: “This marks a fantastic end to a very successful season for our club who. After so many seasons at the bottom of Division Three, Division Two here we come!”

Seaham were quickly out of the blocks, keen to make amends for their disappointing defeat to Jarrow on the last day of the league season.

Brad Green missed an early penalty and Graeme Steel also missed a kick from thirty metres out following early Seaham pressure.

Seaham may have begun thinking that it wasn’t their day when another opportunity went amiss. After a flowing move, involving Andy Hogwood and Barry Siddle, John Dixon found himself on the end of a neatly worked overlap but spilled possession with the line beckoning.

The Harbour maintained the ascendancy and piled pressure on Aycliffe who defended stubbornly and held their lines well.

Incredibly, Green missed another two penalties but after 25 minutes the pressure eventually paid off for Seaham.

Ben Bell got up well at the front of the line and palmed an Aycliffe throw down to Dan Cahill, who drove over the line and scored his first try of the season.

Steel attempted a touchline conversion but his effort drifted to the right of the posts but Seaham had the breakthrough at 5-0.

On 32 minutes some neat interplay between Jack McCallum, John Dixon and Brad Green played in full back Glen Hardie to score his eleventh try of the season and send Seaham into the break with a 10-0 lead.

Seaham once again came storming out of the blocks at the beginning of the second half and established an early ascendancy. The harbour’s kicking nightmare was cured when Graeme Steel finally nailed a penalty to stretch the lead to 13 points.

Within five minutes, Seaham recorded their third try of the day. Joey Jones made a big hit in midfield and the force of the impact knocked the ball from his grasp. Jack McCallum showed great alertness and scooped the ball up before outpacing the defence and touching down in the left corner to make the score 18-0.

Shortly after the hour mark, dynamic flanker James Ramshaw forced a turn-over just inside Aycliffe’s half. Grant Dixon fed Graham Aldus who broke into Aycliffe’s 22 and the ball was worked out to McCallum who raced over for his second try of the day under the posts.

Brad Green nailed the conversion attempt and reached a personal milestone of 150 points for the season.

Manchester United triumphed at Sunderland but it proved worthless as rivals Manchester City lifted the title following their dramatic comeback against QPR in an electrifying finale at the Etihad Stadium.

Confusion reigned as the travelling United fans’ lack of celebration at full-time was met by equal silence from the home end before news filtered through of the City late-show.

Wayne Rooney’s flicked header proved enough to seal the victory in what proved to be a pulsating stand-alone game, regardless of the cross-country title battle.

As the Premier League season entered the final 90 minutes, neither side seemed incisive, with a fairly low-key opening before Rooney nodded Phil Jones’ whipped ball into the net from point-blank range after 20 minutes.

Soon after, the England striker rifled a freekick onto the crossbar and he should have doubled his tally when he scuffed Ashley Young’s drive past the post.

Then, controversy, as referee Howard Webb turned away Stephane Sessegnon’s penalty shout.

James McClean and Craig Gardner also tested David De Gea as a fightback appeared to be on the cards.

Gardner then found himself at the other end with a courageous block to deny United winger Young.

An even greater cheer than the goal rang around the stadium as more news from Manchester confirmed Jamie Mackie had put QPR ahead, a goal which saw Fergie’s men rise to the Premier League summit.

Veterans Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs both came close, hitting the post and forcing Mignolet into a spectacular reaction save.

But ultimately, proceedings at the Stadium of Light were unnecessary as the remarkable story back in Manchester took a stunning twist.

Sunderland fans revelled in the news and retaliated to United’s earlier taunts with a full-scale Poznan, City’s trademark goal celebration.

Man-of-the-Match: Simon Mignolet

Image: Sunderland ‘s Stephane Sessegnon battled with Paul Scholes during Man Utd’s 1-0 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. Credit: PA

Sam Edwards and Andrew MacDonald, both Sports Coaching students at the University, were invited to join the panel thanks to their voluntary commitment to helping golf projects in the region.

Andrew (back row, second left) and Sam (front row, far right) volunteering at a 'Get Into Golf' event at Canary Wharf last month

MacDonald, 19, who is a member of Newcastle United Golf club said: “I’m really chuffed to be on the England Golf Youth Panel. I’ve been helping out with golf events at my golf club and I was awarded National volunteer of the year.

“We work closely with the head of England Golf and it’s really exciting to get their feedback on our ideas that we have for the sport.”

The National Youth Panel meet regularly in Birmingham to discuss ways of getting more young people involved in the sport and moving away from the traditionalist view of Golf.

Just last month they held an event at Canary Wharf as part of their ‘Get Into Golf’ campaign – where sharp suited businessmen joined tourists and shoppers in various golf challenges.

Next week, both Sam and Andrew will also volunteer at Golf Live, one of the biggest Golf exhibitions in the country where McDonald will caddy for Colin Montgomerie.

Edwards, 20, has only been on the panel for three months and is a member of Wearside Golf club. She said: “I come from a different perspective to Andrew, he is the elite player, whereas I have never played. But I do love the sport and have loads of ideas to get young people involved.

“Urban Golf is what we do. We want to take golf out into the street and shake it up for younger people. There’s more to it than membership fees, golf club houses etc.”

Edwards is the daughter of trick shot legend Dave Edwards and says her father’s influence is behind the big plans the Youth Panel have for golf.  She said: “It’s how I got involved, it’s so much fun. The traditional game of golf is still there and available for the elite players.

“But the Youth Panel are about participation and getting those ‘non-golfers’ interested in golf.”

There are 14 members on the National Youth Panel and to have two from the same University is quite unique as England Golf Partnership Volunteer Manager Phil Beard explains: ”Both Sam and Andrew have been excellent. They were both recommended to me for the work they have done at a local level.

“They have a real passion for what they do, and for helping others. It’s a great reflection on them that they are two students who make opportunities for themselves.”

‘Get into Golf’ is currently running across the North East region with taster sessions available at selected Golf Clubs, including Sunderland Golf centre. For more information click here.

Ball-work was a key component to the trials

Inspired by Wayne Rooney’s hit TV program, Street Striker, the namesake event attracted 26 budding footballers to the Goals 5-a-side Centre at the Sunderland College Bede Centre.

And while many students took part, others played key roles in organising the event.

Sunderland College Sports Enrichment Officer James Hair said: “From first-hand experience, it’s very difficult to get into clubs especially in the North East so an opportunity like this is excellent.

“The football CV trials are spread out all across the country so the first and second placed players will go to Middlesbrough.

“They get a full trial day, which means they get filmed and the DVD gets sent off to all the football league teams with the possibility of getting more trials, so it’s an excellent prize.

The four challenges focused on testing a player’s finishing, passing, accuracy and skills before five finalists locked horns in a final round which combined each key area of footballing talent.

Hair added: “It’s loosely based on the Wayne Rooney format as the aspects that are involved in that are incorporated into what the football CV look for.”

Jack Stanger, 18, triumphed in the final after impressing the panel of judges, sealing a chance to impress the Middlesbrough coaching staff.

The Humbledon teenager said: “It’s been very good, I have to say I didn’t expect to win but it’s been very good. I’ve been signed at Sunderland and Hartlepool before now and they were a lot harder than what I thought.

“The trials involve a lot of fitness, possession and passing, all types of ball-work really. I’ve now got a good chance to go to the club and we’ll wait and see what happens.”

Andy Hagen fought of stiff competition to finish second, also claiming a spot at the trial day.

Sports Lecturer and event judge Paul Brown reflected on the array of talent on display at the college. He said: “In general, the standard of football at this college is fantastic.

“Since the Football Development Centre started three or four years ago we’ve never failed to impress in the leagues and the cups and Jack Stanger is a part of that. He is a fantastic player and what a prize he’s just got himself.

“Today’s been very good, although people were nervous at the start of it, they got more confident and cocky towards the end so it’s been good.”

Tyne and Wear Youth face a tough climax to the regional darts season as they travel to table topping Lancashire this weekend.

The 20-strong squad head to Manchester on the back of a four game winless run but they will hope to end that record and ensure a respectable fourth place finish in the National Youth Darts Organisation North East Division.

Tyne and Wear could have a huge say in the title race as they look to dent Lancashire’s hopes of making it back-to-back league titles.

Lancashire have taken seven victories from their eight matches this season and boast the highest overall team average of 18.52. Earlier in the season they defeated Tyne and Wear 11-4 and will start the match on home turf as favourites.

Tyne and Wear General Secretary Steve Mann says there is no pressure on his side: “We’ll approach the game as we always do, looking forward to it and going out with a smile on our faces.

“I don’t put any pressure on my players to go out and win, they are playing for themselves as well as the team so even if they lose, as long as they enjoy it I can’t ask for more.”

“It’s been a season of two halves really. We started off really well with victory over Yorkshire and we were unfortunate to lose out to Durham on the last game.

“The second half of the season we’ve struggled a little, but the games have been very close and hopefully we can end on a high and build for next season.”

Matches are divided into three sections, with a total of 15 points on offer. Seven under-18 games are preceded by three ladies matches and rounded off with a five under-21 games.

Ladies first team star Casey Stephenson said: “It’s been a great season and I’m looking forward to playing Lancashire again. The standard of the ladies matches are getting higher and it’s great to be part of.”

After two back to back Wearside League titles, Ryhope will step up to the Northern League next season and they bowed out of the Wearside League in style.

A hat-trick from John Harrison and goals from Jack Stranger (2), John Butler and Jonathan Davis, along with an own goal from Neil Crammon, meant Ryhope have put 21 goals past Boldon in their last three meetings. Shaun Carroll grabbed a consolation goal for Boldon.

This was the second meeting between the sides in three days, following Monday’s Monkwearmouth Cup Final, and both teams made substantial changes to their lineups.

Ryhope opened the scoring when Crammon turned a cross into his own goal. Boldon’s luck showed no sign of changing when Stranger’s strike was deflected to double Ryhope’s lead.

Stranger got his second when he struck from 20 yards out and he was involved in Ryhope’s fourth when his perfectly weighted cross was headed home by John Butler.

It was Butler’s 55th goal of the season and 41st in the league, earning him the golden boot award.

Credit to Boldon, they never gave up, and drew first blood in the second half when Carroll’s driven shot from 25 yards flew into the roof of the net.

But any hopes of an unlikely comeback were quickly extinguished with two quick-fire Ryhope from Jack Harrison.

His first came when he slid home a Nathan O’Neil flick on and just a minute later he converted Mark Catcheside’s low cross from two yards out for his second.

Harrison completed his hat-trick when Catcheside cut into the box and again unselfishly passed across goal for Harrison to finish from close range.

Ryhope’s eighth and final goal was another easy tap in for Davis after a great work by Philip John Hall.

Ryhope Manager Martin Swales said: “ We’ve done better than expected again this season and we’re on for the quadruple.

“It’s been a great season and were now looking forward to the new challenge next season.

“May I just mention how good the boys have been: finishing the league with plus 107 goal difference, not to mention Butler’s 55 goals, and still one match to play.”

Ryhope Chairman Ronnie Crosby added: “We need a new challenge but to succeed we have to keep our players.

“We never shout the odds but we are aiming for a top six finish next year.”

SportsByte’s Mark Hodgson reviews the inaugural Marathon of the North – the first ever marathon in Sunderland.

“Crossing the Wearmouth Bridge at 8:20am on Sunday, a strange noise could be heard in the distance.

This combined with the completely barren roads could have made you think something unusual was happening.

And you’d be right.

As you moved over the bridge the noise became ever more audible. And the words of the music and DJs slowly started to make sense.

Approaching the Stadium of Light – despite their still being no noise from traffic – you could feel an atmosphere. An expectant buzz.

As the extent of the crowds surrounding the stadium began to become apparent, you could see how much support there was for the first ever Marathon of the North in Sunderland.

The race was started by Olympic bronze medallist Charlie Spedding, who believes the crowds were witnessing one of the toughest tests possible:

“The marathon is the real challenge for people who are trying to see if they can do it. People do 10k, and that is a performance in itself, but a Marathon is a whole different level,” he said.

“The council insisted that the whole route was within the boundaries of the city and fitting 26 miles in is quite difficult. So to fit it in they had to loop it around all over the place.

“But all that looping around makes it a bit more interesting so you’re not running in the same direction for mile after mile. There’s a bit of coast and there’s a bit of park.”

Sunday morning’s weather was fantastic for supporters and runners alike. A great day for running that impressed Olympic Gold medallist Sally Gunnell, who started the 10k race.

She said: “The weather’s been brilliant and there’s a real buzz around here. Speaking to everyone they’re saying there’s some lovely running areas, especially on that sea front there.

“We’ll wait to see what people say about the marathon but I think it’s a course that will be nice to them and I think it’s really good that spectators can enjoy it in many different places.”

There was a good result for Sunderland’s Aly Dixon in the 10k, who managed to avoid the melee on the start line caused by the lead car breaking down to win the women’s category.

She was glad to be able to just enjoy running without pressure, having missed out on Olympic qualification at the London Marathon only a fortnight earlier.

“It’s good to see so many people out running around Sunderland. The crowds were really good and everybody seems to be enjoying themselves,” she said.

“It’s great to put the city back on the running map. We’ve got a great heritage of marathon running from the runners in Sunderland so to have our own marathon is really good.

“It’s a big change just being out there running, just enjoying it and soaking up the atmosphere instead of having to worry about your mile splits and all that kind of stuff.”

More than 2,000 runners turned out for the Marathon of the North and the Sunderland 10k.

Hopefully, the race organisers will be inspired to bring back the Marathon of the North next year.

So grab your running shoes!”

Images: Pictures of the Marathon of the North and Sunderland 10k. Credit: Ray Hutcheon of Roker, Sunderland

Sunderland manager Mick Mulhern has laid down the gauntlet for next season after his side completed a “special” double with Sunday’s League Cup final victory over Leeds.

Two goals from Natalie Gutteridge helped the Lady Black Cats to a 2-1 win over Leeds in the Cup having pipped the Yorkshire side to the Premier League title on the last day.

But Mulhern admitted that they had made it hard for themselves at times.

He told SportsByte: ”It is obviously special to win the Cup and the League again.

“I think we lost a few games we shouldn’t have done that gave the likes of Leeds a chance to get close to us.

“We knew from October that we couldn’t afford to lose a game and that is basically how it has been.”

Mulhern has now set his sights on replicating the achievements next year and hopes to strengthen his current squad further in the close season.

“We have got to go again. We said we wanted to follow in the footsteps of Arsenal and we have done that with two titles. We said we had to add a cup to that and we have done that now.

“We have got to be in the hunt for the league, we have got to be in the hunt for this cup and we have got to do again what we did last year and get to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

“We won’t stand still I will bring a couple in just to add to the group because other teams won’t stand still so we can’t.”

Image: Sunderland boss Mick Mulhern proudly holds aloft the Premier League title and the League Cup. Picture Courtesy: Susan Gutteridge, www.sunderlandwfc.co.uk