Victory was particularly sweet for Eastbourne College when they retained the under-18s' title at the Sussex Schoolgirls' Hockey Championships.

Captain Jane Lyons rewarded her team-mates with bags of jelly babies and handed over a bar of chocolate to coach Dusty Miller.

Eastbourne pipped St Bede's (Upper Dicker) 1-0 in the final, thanks to a late goal by Holly Gosden at Christ's Hospital, Horsham.

Jane said: "I wanted to thank the team for all their effort and determination and to show the captain cares and appreciates what they've done.

"I'm very proud to skipper such a team. Although we won it last year, this year was extra amazing because everyone is so generous with how much they put in. We have a talented team, from our 13-year-old keeper Naila El Abiary to our England squad player Sophy Mills."

The team now compete in the South Region Championships at Surbiton on November 29 when a place in the national finals will be at stake.

Jane, 17, said: "I think I might take the team out for dinner if we get through that one."

The Sussex under-18s sweeper took a whack on the head during the final. She said: "I was in a daze. I made a speech afterwards and got my words muddled up so people could tell I was out of it. But I'm so happy."

Miller said: "Jane is a tremendous motivator. She's a great lass and helps cultivate a great spirit.

"But all the team did well because they were well organised. They are a lovely bunch with their banter and charm, and have the necessary steel to win.

"We missed out on qualifying for the national stage by one goal at the regionals last year so we are determined it won't happen again."

Miller said several schools were unhappy about playing on grass instead of an artificial surface.

He said: "Christ's Hospital has one astro pitch, but it would not have been fair to use it. You need two pitches for a tournament the size of the Sussex Championships.

"There is little hockey played on grass, but we adapted well."

Eastbourne College and Seaford College, who included England international Nyssa McNeill, won their sections without conceding any goals. St Bede's and Battle Abbey were runners up.

In the semi-finals, Eastbourne College beat Battle Abbey 3-0 with goals by Felicity Hood, Sophy Mills and Joelle Meakin and St Bede's defeated Seaford College 1-0.

Eastbourne College under-18s: Naila El Abiary, Jane Lyons, Bella Stewart, Caroline Atkinson, Jenny Webborn, Alice Ball, Felicity Hood, Sophy Mills, Annabelle Richardson, Katie West, Holly Gosden, Joelle Meakin, Kirsty Carr, Harriet Wilcock, Abi Orr, Jenny Hylton.

St Leonards-Mayfield won the under-16s crown for a second successive year.

They did it with a last-minute goal by Temi Akinrinade against Dorothy Stringer (Brighton).

The side included under-14 and under-15s players and will now compete in the South Region finals at Surbiton on November 22.

Captain Alice McGovern, 16, said: "We hadn't played together at all but gelled.

"I think the secret behind our victory was a good team spirit, tactics and teachers.

"We've got a very big task in the regionals and will have to improve our fitness."

Coach Helen Calvert said: "It turned out right, although by mixing the age groups it could have gone a bit wrong.

"We won three and drew three of our section matches by applying a lot of pressure and carried it on in the latter stages when the speed of Loretta, Alice and Temi up front was vital.

"I intend to bring in a very good Russian player, Julya Demianenko, for the regionals to add to our international line-up."

The semi-finals were decided on a penalty stroke after both matches finished goalless. St Leonards edged out Eastbourne College and Dorothy Stringer overcame Bexhill High Stringer coach Carlo Missirian said: "Our under-16s did well. There were quite a few state schools like us who enjoyed the experience."

St Leonards-Mayfield: Gabrielle Burner, Christobelle Coultard, Juliet Burner, Temi Akinrinade, Christina Etherington, Ruth Morgan, Nantasja Norman, Rebecca Roberts, Maddy Rudge, Loretta Osunde, Emma Bugeja, Gemma O'Sullivan, Cleone Butler, Katharine Hugil, Lizzie Scraggs, Alice McGovern.

Schools competing at under-18: Eastbourne College, St. Leonards-Mayfield, Seaford College, St Bede's, Roedean, Heathfield, Worthing Sixth Form College, St. Mary's Hall, Christ's Hospital, Battle Abbey, Brighton College, Burgess Hill, Hurstpierpoint College.

Schools competing at under-16: Eastbourne College, St. Leonards-Mayfield, St. Bede's, Roedean, Dorothy Stringer, Bexhill High, Blatchington Mill (Hove), Hove Park, Brighton and Hove High, Brighton College, Burgess Hill, Newlands (Seaford), Ardingly College.

EASTBOURNE College under-18s have beaten Surrey side Cranleigh, coached by British gold medallist Steve Batchelor, 6-2 with goals by Harriet Wilcock (2), Felicity Hood (2), and Holly Gosden, plus a short corner by Alice Ball.