Ben Hawes is determined to follow the World Cup success of fellow Sussex player Frances Houslop.

Hawes is Tasmania preparing for the men's under-21 event while Houslop has just returned in triumph after helping England win the women's qualifying tournament in France.

Hawes, 19, from Lewes, would settle just for a medal after a poor warm-up tour of Malaysia.

He said: "It was not great in Malaysia but we were unlucky.

"Hopefully we can get the luck where it counts, in the Junior World Cup "It would be fantastic to win a gold medal, but our aim is to try and get any kind of medal and I don't think that is out of the question. There have been signs of encouragement in our play and spirit. We should qualify from our group.

"We take on Chile and Ireland first and by the time we meet Australia in the third and final game we should have qualified. The top two go through to the second group stage which decides the semi-finalists."

Hawes is in the squad to face Tasmania in a friendly tomorrow. The opening game of the tournament is against Chile next Tuesday.

Houslop, 19, from Horsted Keynes, was on the bench as England defeated Russia 4-0 in the women's final after a sustaining an ankle injury in the opening game against France.

The defender said: "It was a great to be a part of the set-up aimed at being the best. The last couple of years was focused on the Olympics and because the results weren't great in Sydney some questions were asked and things changed. This gold medal is a turning point.

"The injury followed my broken thumb earlier this year. Before I got into the England seniors I'd hardly been injured. But I just got on with it and was able to learn more about other people's positions, although it was great to get a closer view from the bench rather than the stands for the final."

Former Ardingly College pupil Frances, who was in the women's Junior World Cup in May, added: "I wish Ben good luck."

Sussex youngsters have got National Championship call-ups. Worthing trio Chris Bristow, James Lester and Donal Aherne are in the South East boys' squad for the under-15s' area event at Milton Keynes from October 26 to 28.

The county girls' will supply the South with Nyssa McNeill (Battle), Sophie Mills (Eastbourne) and Hannah Simpson (Worthing), and Carolyn Perry (Eastbourne) reserve, for the under-18s' squad who compete at the same venue from October 20 to 21. Eastbourne pair Jenny Webborn and Vicky Bryant will compete at under-16s on the same weekend, with Tilly Brampton (Burgess Hill) and Dilly Newton (Eastbourne) in reserve.

Donal Aherne celebrated his 50th match for Sussex with two goals but the county under-16s were pipped 3-2 by Berkshire. He also hit four goals in a 7-1 win over Buckinghamshire in the opening double fixture of the Southern Counties Youth and School Championship at Seaford College, Petworth.

Simon Acott (Brighton College) scored as the county under-19s went down 3-1 to Berks and a 2-0 to Bucks at High Wycombe.

Sussex under-15s overcame Bucks 6-2 and Berks 2-0 in Berkshire.

The Sussex girls' under-15s beat Hampshire 2-1 with goals from, Jenny Knight and Anna McNaught-Davis.

They also overcame Berkshire 3-2. Sussex girls under-14s scored a 3-0 win against Berkshire and drew 0-0 with Hampshire.