England crown for Ansell while Quartermaine continues his rise

Despite an eight-hour round trip to Birtley, Tyne & Wear to face the 2015 runner-up, Ansell was immediately on the front foot and took control of the centre of the ring while unleashing her snappy long shots.

Birch came back into the fight in the second half of the second round and finished the stronger, leaving the bout in the balance as it entered the final round.

The duo went toe to toe, with Ansell digging deep to get the decision.

She now has an anxious wait to see if she will receive a call-up to the England side for the Tri-Nations in Wales.

Meanwhile, stablemate Danny Quartermaine enhanced his burgeoning reputation with victory over Connor Jones (Lions ABC) in the England Boxing Elite Midland Counties final at Birmingham’s Irish Centre.

Jones, who has represented Great Britain at youth level, was expected to progress but despite Quartermaine fighting in the Lions’ boxer’s backyard, he emerged with the decision.

The 18-year-old dominated the first round, with Jones content to box on the back foot and it was only in the last 30 seconds of the round that the Lions fighter made any impression.

The tempo increased in the second round, with Quartermaine opening up with a flurry of punches to pin Jones on the ropes.

Jones’ repeated holding saw him deducted a point, with his corner screaming out at the subdued boxer to match the workrate of Quartermaine.

Quartermaine maintained the quality of his performance in the final round and will now go on to face North-West champion Yousif Saeed (Bridgewater, Salford) in Liverpool tomorrow.

And coach Edwin Cleary believes there is clear route to the final for his charge.

He said: “Danny has already boxed three of the top seeds left in the championships this season and he will fear no one.”

Meanwhile, 13-year-old Jordan Kendall has moved into the schools’ national quarter-finals.