St Leonards-Mayfield were denied a hat-trick of successive Sussex Under-19s Schoolgirls Open Championship triumphs at the Triangle, Burgess Hill.

They were pipped 25-22 by the American School (Cobham) in the final.

They overcame Durrington (Worthing) 25-11 in the quarter-final before edging out the American School (Croydon) 25-23 in the last four.

They won six of their eight matches to qualify from the group.

Coach Phillippo Nevill said: "It was disappointing not to complete our third win but the competition was a lot stronger this year with teams coming from all over the southern region. At least we were the top Sussex school by some distance."

St Leonards-Mayfield are county champions at under-16s and under-19s, titles they sealed at Ardingly College in June.

St Leonards-Mayfield: Rocca Gutteridge (captain), Fay Butcher, Maddy Rudge, Suki Lei, Cluaid Guitto, Alice Merrick, Jackie Symcox, Ella Baucher, Katherine Chan.

Durrington finished eighth and Worthing High ninth while Michael Hall (Forest Row) competed.