MALMESBURY'S JOE Hughes eased his way into his fourth consecutive National semi-final at a hot and steamy Lydney Town Hall, where the Junior ABA quarterfinals were contested.

Hughes faced Newbiggin's Ryan Burt, of Tyne-Tees Division.

Burt gave Hughes a useful workout, without ever threatening to deny the Malmesbury boy's place in the next round of the championships.

Hughes boxed beautifully in the opener, connecting solidly with left jabs and the occasional right hand.

Left hooks, to the body of the tall Burt, took Hughes further ahead in the second.

Burt staged a big finish in the final round as Hughes took his foot off the gas but had too much leeway to make up and Hughes was the clear points' winner.

Club mates, Dan Williamson and Sam Jenner, went out on points' decisions at this stage.

Williamson boxed well against Callum Ellenor of Sunderland and had a lead going into the last round but too many periods of inactivity cost him the decision by a solitary point.

Jenner faced a big task against double National Champion, Nathan Dale, of Kingfisher.

He won the final round but was unable to make up the deficit of the first two.