WEST HERTS Warriers Basketball Club last week completed the full set, so to speak, after receiving news that their senior team had been accepted into the National Leagues.

The Warriers will begin next season, which starts up again in October, in the National League Division Two.

With this announcement, the club can now boast teams at virtually every level competing on such a level, with their Under-18's, Under-16's, Under-15's, Under-14's, Under-13's and Under-16's Girls already playing leading roles on the national stage.

The news comes on the back of what has been a particularly progressive period for the club. The Warriers ended last season by lifting the Herts Cup following a nerve-jangling two-point victory over Ware, after recovering from 28-6 down, while also finishing fourth in the Herts Premier Division. And the club's strength in depth was certified when the second side, the Watford Panthers, were crowned Division Three champions of the Herts League.

Their achievements have not come by chance though. Throughout the season the club's coaches regularly took the sport to various schools in the area and, in total, estimate that more than 500 pupils enjoyed introductory and more advanced coaching sessions.

The results are reflected in club membership figures, which now stands at more than 140 registered players, and the target next year is to expand that to 190.

West Herts draws its strength from six separate development clubs, including Watford Basketball Club, Rickmansworth Basketball Club and St Albans, and maintains interest throughout the close season with regular training sessions.

Summer training takes place on Sundays at the Bill Everitt Centre, with separate sessions for each age-group, from 3pm to 9pm.

Anyone is invited to take part at a cost of £4 per session. Meanwhile, with competition likely to be stern next season, pre-season has been scheduled to start in the final week of August.