Vicky Griffiths admits East Grinstead’s women would love to follow in the footsteps of their successful men’s team.

Grinstead are one of three Sussex women’s sides who will be competing in national finals at Old Loughtonians this weekend.

The trio’s achievements represent a boom in the ladies’ game in the county.

Grinstead skipper Griffiths admits her team are driven by the desire to keep pace with the men’s first team who have been crowned domestic indoor and outdoor champions this season.

The women take on Lewes in the National Vase final, hoping to build on their own indoor success where they emerged from nowhere to claim a place in National League division two for next season.

Griffiths said: “Reaching a national final is fantastic for the club. Having got to the quarter-final last year, to go two stages better is a fabulous achievement.

“With our men’s team having done so brilliantly it is nice to try to follow them. It has been inspiring to see them do as well as they have and the general atmosphere at the club is really positive.”

Grinstead will be at full strength to face a Lewes side who pipped them to the Sussex League title this season.

Griffiths added: “We are definitely up for setting the record straight against Lewes. Having come so close to beating them in the crucial league game and then losing, this time we really want to make sure.”

Lewes are without Rosie Bloor due to a knee injury and Caroline Petty, who is unavailable due to work commitments while Fi Maxwell (thumb) and Tara Rogers (twisted ankle) are both injury doubts.

Captain Kerry Fitzpatrick said: “It is really exciting, especially the fact it is two Sussex teams. It shows the strength in Sussex compared to everywhere else.”

Those are thoughts echoed by Chichester captain Claire Greenway whose side will face Broxbourne in the final of the Women’s Trophy.

Greenway said: “We have won the national vase before, the same cup East Grinstead and Lewes are playing for.

“We are the lowest level of team that can enter the Trophy – everybody else is two or three leagues above us.

“It has been really good for the club to reach the final. The club are putting on a coach to the game and the fact that we have got to the Sussex Cup final as well is really good.

“Across the board in the south women’s hockey is looking very strong. We have a lot of juniors who are coming through. At Chichester, we have Charlotte Cox who is an England player. The development is working well.”

It is a big weekend for Sussex hockey with Horsham girls under-18s and Eastbourne boys under-18s taking part in National Plate finals in Sheffield.

Meanwhile, the Sussex men’s finals are being hosted at Eastbourne all weekend with Chichester taking on Brighton and Hove in the showpiece senior final on Sunday.

Brighton captain Kevin Browne said: “The finals weekend is always a big weekend for us. To win would be a great testament to the effort and hard work we have put in during the second half of the season to avoid relegation.

“Chichester are a very good side but we managed a draw with them in the league and we will be doing our best to win.”

Brighton will be without Simon Turner and Nick van Tromp while player-coach Ben Barnes is missing for Chichester.