PURBROOK school showed the rest of Hampshire how it should be done when they cleaned up at a county Junior Volleyball Tournament.

The destination for the trophies in both the girls and the boys finals was never in doubt as Havant's Purbrook A beat Purbrook B 3-1 in the girls competition while the boys' A team beat their B string 3-2.

And all that when Purbrook B girls were late replacements for Fernhill.

Nine schools entered teams in the competition held at Applemore Recreation Centre near Southampton.

And Hampshire County Council Sports Development Officer Emma Lindsay, who organised the event in conjunction with Hampshire Volleyball Development Group's Phil Allen, hopes go from strength to strength.

"It was an absolutely fabulous day. All the teams and team managers enjoyed it so much they are already looking forward to next year's event," she said.

"Hopefully we can increase the numbers of teams in the future. A couple of schools came along just to watch and they want to be involved next time."

One of the highlights of the day was a full under-19 international between England and Australia men.

And, while the Australians ran out 3-0 winners in a best-of-five-set match, chairman of Hampshire Volleyball Development Group Phil Allen was quick to point out the contest was in fact much closer than the final score suggested.

"England played well in the first and third sets but lost it a little in the second," he said.

Helped by New Milton's Paulo Maranhao, England did get to set point in the first, but having missed the serve the Australians sneaked in to take it 27-25.

Unsettled by their narrow loss in the first Engalnd were never in the second set and the Australians ran riot to set up a 2-0 lead. And, while England rallied in the third to take the score to 20-20, again the Australians showed that little bit in reserve to seal the 3-0 victory and take a 1-0 lead in a three-test series.

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