BOXER Rosie Eccles will go for Gold Coast glory at the Commonwealth Games on Saturday after booking her place in the women’s 69kg final.

Welterweight Eccles beat home favourite Kaye Scott on a split decision to progress from the semis and set up a meeting with England’s Sandy Ryan.

The 21-year-old from Chepstow, who fights out of Pontypool ABC, took on Aussie Scott following victories over Cameroon’s Aubiege Azangue and Magan Maka of Tonga.

Scott was bidding to avoid defeat to a Welsh fighter for the second Games running having been beaten by Lauren Price, who is in semi-final action tomorrow, at Glasgow 2014.

But she came up against someone in no mood to settle for bronze and felt several Eccles left-right combinations through the bout.

Eccles started strongly and maintained a high tempo throughout, getting the decision from four of the five ringside judges (29-28, 28-29, 29-28, 29-27, 30-27).

“I’m absolutely ecstatic,” said the 2016 European silver medallist and sport psychology university student. “It’s what we came here for.

“Before I came out I said my dream final would be me and Sandy Ryan, and there’s no better way to win than against someone’s who’s a good girl like her.”

She added: “I knew I had to do a proper job on her (Scott). I couldn’t just win the rounds, I needed to win them and then some, and I was very aware of that.

“I’ve got an amazing coaching team and we have a plan for everything, and we executed it very well so I’m very happy.

“I got a silver in the Europeans and cried for days so we’re going for gold on the 14th and I’m ecstatic – I’m so proud to wear this vest.”

On the work she has put in to get this far, Eccles continued: "The training we put ourselves through and the coaching and performance team have got it spot on.

"We're running up hills in Merthyr at God knows what time in the morning, your lungs are bursting and you're training four times a day.

"To come here and pull it off with your team behind you is something special and I'm absolutely ecstatic.

"I'll sit back and watch the fight because that wasn't my perfect fight by any means – we'd been sparring a few weeks ago actually so maybe that's why.

“But I'll focus, rest, recover and then go again."

Meanwhile, Eccles’ Wales teammates Sammy Lee (81kg) and Mickey McDonagh (60kg) guaranteed themselves at least bronze medals after quarter-final victories.