Boxing: City trio's Amateur heartache

Edinburgh based Scottish champions were well beaten by top English opposition in the British Amateur boxing championships in Liverpool at the weekend.

Lochend welterweight Tommy Philbin battled bravely against English 2010 Commonwealth Games Silver medallist Callum Smith, who won 10-1 on points, although winner Smith himself conceded that the margin of victory may have flattered him after Philbin only lost round one by a narrow 2-1 score.

Meanwhile, another top English boxer, Martin Ward, beat Lochend's Scottish 60kg champion Josh Taylor by 11-5, while, at light-welterweight, Craigmillar's Scottish 63kg champion Jason Easton was stopped in round two while trailing English Commonwealth games Silver medallist Bradley Saunders by a massive points deficit of 16-1.