Two Brighton College girls are following in the footsteps of a famous former teacher by proving they can mix it with the boys.

Sarah Taylor, 15, and Holly Colvin, 14, are the youngest ever female players at the college to play for a boys' cricket team.

The pair starred in the under-15s side which reached the semi-finals of the Lord's Taverners Cup last week, where they lost to Millfield School.

They were the only girls competing in the nationwide competition, which featured more than 1,000 schools.

The previous youngest player to take on the boys was Clare Connor, who was 16 when she became the first girl to play in a public school boys' first team.

Connor, who coached at the college until last summer, has gone on to become the Sussex and England captain and received an MBE two weeks ago.

Coach James Dahl believes Taylor and Colvin can emulate Connor and continue to break new ground for girls in cricket.

He said: "Clare Connor started it all off with girls' cricket at the college. She was a fantastic player and when she came back as a teacher she paved the way for others by setting up a girls' cricket team.

"With her coaching and inspirational leadership, she encouraged more girls to take part. Because of her, we now attract girls who want to play cricket and it is no longer a strange concept to have girls playing in the same team as boys.

"Everyone accepts it as the norm and you can see through Sarah and Holly how successful it has been.

"The two girls have been brilliant. They will only improve by playing with boys and I'm confident they will keep on developing as they get older."

Taylor said: "I love playing cricket and my dream is to do what Clare Connor did and go on to become captain of England."

Colvin said: "I would love to play for England but I don't want to be seen as the same as Clare Connor. I want to be my own person and be seen as a good player myself and I'm confident I can go on and do it."

Both girls find it easy competing with boys, but admit they receive the odd remark from the opposition during matches.

Taylor said: "Other teams are normally quite surprised to be playing girls and there is occasionally some sledging. But that just spurs you on to do even better and makes you want to prove you are a good player.

"My team-mates are really good about playing with girls and we are treated like any other player. But it does help having Holly in the team because we can talk about things you can't really do with boys."

Colvin added: "It is a challenge playing with boys and we get some funny looks from the other players.

"A bit of whispering goes on, but you get used to it. I've played with boys before when I was in year seven in my Prep school and for the under-14s team, so it doesn't bother me and makes me want to show them what I can do."

Another student leading the way for Brighton College is Laura Marsh. The 17-year-old has been selected for the England under-21 tour of Ireland in August.

She said: "This is my first call-up and I can't wait to take part. I've also been selected for the reserves of the England Development squad, so things are really going well for me at the moment."

Dahl added: "Laura is another role model for the younger students to look up to. It shows them the path they can take as they develop.

"Laura's call-up is great for her and the college because it will help her improve as a player and inspire more younger girls to take up the sport as well."