Sussex are through to the county championships after dominating at the group stages for a third successive year.

The county won all four games in Leicestershire and are now unbeaten in the group stages for three seasons in a row.

They defeated Suffolk 2-1, Norfolk 3-0, Bedfordshire 5-0 and Leicester and Rutland 6-1 to finish top of pool one and qualify for the finals at Exeter on May 31/June 1.

Jack Lerwill led the scoring stakes with six goals, Luke Hurle netted four while Steve Edmonds (two), Steve Spears, Sam Rose, Matt Cox, Richard Blakesley and Matt Clarke were also on target.

Coach Chris Marchant said: "This is a fantastic testament to the quality of players in Sussex.

"The players had to work extremely hard in very warm temperatures and managed to play at times dazzling hockey which certainly made them favourites to watch among the spectators.

"We improved every game and the players should be very proud of themselves."

The squad was: Chris Day, Dan Godsmark, Jon Weait, Steve Spears, Kieren Henn, Kevin Browne, Richard Baker, Gerald Cox, Chris Marchant, Matt Cox, Matt Clarke, Steve Edmonds, Jack Lerwill, Mike Newman, Luke Hurle, Sam Rose, Alex Warner and Richard Blakesley.

This weekend Sussex under-21s travel to Portsmouth to face the Combined Services. The winners will qualify for the national u21 championships at Brooklands.