CONNAUGHT squash star Lauren Briggs enjoyed an impressive outing at the illustrious Alexandria Sporting Club Open in Egypt this month, making it to the semi-finals before being knocked out by the number one seed.

Briggs, seeded fourth for the event, eventually succumbed to world number seven Omneya Abdel Kawy in their last four encounter after a gruelling battle.

Her opponent took the first two sets, but Briggs fought back to claim the third in the best-of-five match.

She matched Kawy stride for stride in the all-important fourth set, but was narrowly beaten 13-11.

The 29-year-old Ching-ford resident began the tournament in fine fashion, disposing of Heba El Torky before coming through a titanic clash with seventh seed Suzie Pierrepont.

Briggs didn’t get off the mark in the opening set, but she made amends by edging a thrilling second 15-13.

Despite losing the next set, she stormed back to edge her quarter-final match to earn a shot against Kawy.

Meanwhile, two Con-naught members helped England to victory with some stirring performances in a competition in Spain.

Richie Fallows and the under-15 team had a tough route to victory but beat the Czech Republic two matches to one in the final of this year’s European Junior Team Championships in Girona.

Sophie Lemom, current England girls’ number four, was also successful after helping the under-17 team beat Scotland by two matches to nil.

The pair are coached by Dave Webster at the Connaught Club in Rangers Road, Chingford.