A NEW-look Oxford University team could not overcome their city counterparts in the annual Town v Gown clash at the Oxford Union.

Town ran out winners 7-4 – the same margin of victory as 12 months ago.

Featherweight Melvin Chen and middleweight Richard Pickering – this season’s captain – were the only survivors from 2009’s Dark Blues’ team.

And both of them duly delivered in the ring where all 11 bouts went the distance.

Chen, from Mansfield College, proved more precise than Coventry rival William Houston to win on points.

The second featherweight clash saw David Lee edged out on a split decision against Ivan Tikohonov from the nearby Blackbird Leys gym.

Tikohonov’s better combinations was the deciding factor in gaining a majority decision.

Lincoln College’s James Meredith was the lone student success at light welter as he claimed a unanimous win over Capitol’s Matthew Malone.

Firmer and more precise shots saw Michael Gibson gain the second win of the night for the Blackbird Leys outfit against taller fellow newcomer William Tyrrell from Pembroke College.

And a last ditch rally from southpaw Leon Upton – another light welter Pembroke debutant – was not enough to get the edge over Capitol’s Mo-hammed Chalidhary.

With four bouts as a junior in his native Scotland, Pembroke’s Josh Fields had the most experience amongst the students, but he missed out against Thame’s Adam Craigmile.

The other welter encounter that saw Somerville’s Simon Mahony lose a split decision by Slough’s Simransit Singh.

The students gained two wins at middleweight with Pickering defeating Thame’s David Flatley with a unanimous decision.

Borna Guevel claimed the final University success after an uncompromising battle with Steve Reese from the Oxford Boxing Academy.

Reese dropped to one knee after being caught with a solid right in the opening session.

The two bouts against opponents from the Parachute Regiment went the way of the khaki duo.

Balliol’s Carl Walton was beaten by Thomas Barry and Ben Morris lost to Michael Ellis.

RESULTS

Gown 4, Town 7

Featherweight: M Chen (OU) outpd W Houston (Capitol) maj; I Tikohonov (Blackbird Leys) outpd D Lee (OU) maj.

Light welterweight: J Meredith (OU) outpd M Malone (Capitol) unan; M Gibson (Blackbird Leys) outpd W Tyrrell (OU) unan; M Chalidhary (Capitol) outpd L Upton (OU) maj.

Welterweight: S Singh (Slough) outpd S Mahony (OU) maj; A Craigmile (Thame & Aylesbury) outpd J Fields (OU) maj.

Middleweight: R Pickering (OU) outpd D Flatley (Thame & Aylesbury) unan; T Barry (3 Para) outpd C Walton (OU) unan; B Guevel (OU) outpd S Reese (Oxford Acad) unan; M Ellis (3 Para) outpd B Morris (OU) unan.