Furtherwick Park pupils Sarah and Philippa Neller are going from strength to strength in squash.

The Canvey sisters, who play for Kingswood Squash Club in Basildon, have been selected for the eastern England regional teams.

However, that is only the tip of the iceberg for Sarah, 16, and Philippa, 13, who have notched up a string of successes.

Sarah's squash achievements include winning the Essex Closed U17 tournament and East Anglia Regional Open U17 competition.

Philippa is currently ranked 18th in the national U15 ratings and was runner-up in the Essex Closed U15 competition and East Anglian Regional Open U15 event.

Sisters doing it for themselves - squash players Philippa (left) and Sarah show off some of their trophies

Greensward to stage basketball bonanza There's top quality basketball at Hockley's Greensward College tomorrow afternoon when the Essex girls under-15 team bid for a place in the semi-finals of the National Cup when they take on Northamptonshire.

The side will be captained by Greensward's own England international Vicki Wilmore and other home-based girls in the squad are South of England star Jo Andrews, Natalie Payne, Lindsay Jones and Sam Beale.

Cornelius Vermuyden, Canvey, provide South of England player Louise Gustoff, who has been in outstanding form recently, and Bromfords have a double act in the shape of Louise Sherry and Kerri Smith.

The two Wickford girls play for the Erkenwald Club, while a number of the other outstanding squad members play their club basketball for Chelmsford Swifts.

Essex team boss Tony Mescall admitted that picking his starting line-up was becoming more and more difficult and said: "The girls are in really great form at the moment and it's getting harder to decide who to leave out."

Greensward's own under-16 side reached the quarter-finals of the national cup when they beat Bristol's Backwell School 76-48.

They will be away to opposition from either Exeter or Surrey in the next round while, this weekend, the under-19s go to Manchester in defence of their national trophy. They are bidding for a quarter-final spot.

Westering cash in with bank kit deal

There were smiles on the faces of the pupils of Westering Primary School, in Sunny Road, Hawkwell, when they received a special gift of 20 hooded sports tops and kit bags bearing the school's own name and logo.

The sports clothing was donated by the manager of the NatWest Bank in Eastwood, Fay Hall, who has two children at the school.

Westering head teacher Rob Craddock said: "This generous gift will enable our sports team to look really smart and keep warm when they attend sporting fixtures. Westering children take part in football and netball matches and tournaments at local and area level.

"They also participate in cross-country running meetings, athletic fixtures and swimming galas."

There is a regular hockey club at the school, which takes place on Wednesday mornings.

This club is hoping to play matches against other schools this year.

In addition to playing matches against other local schools, the Westering football team last year won the Hockley Schools' seven-a-side tournament trophy.

Westering's year six netball team, supported by two keen local mums, have entered the Southend Junior League.

Games are played monthly on Sunday mornings at Deanes School, Thundersley. At each, the girls play three matches.

They are currently placed midway in the League table and have been playing very well.

In top gear - Westering Primary School youngsters in their sporting outfits supplied by NatWest Bank, Eastwood

Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

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