Having a ball: Lorne-Airey’s girls, in white, take on Moriac-Ceres in the grand final of Tuesday’s competition
ERIN PEARSON
Hundreds of children from across the Surf Coast competed at Connewarre Reserve this week to battle for the title of inter-school soccer cup champions.
More than 260 year three and four pupils from Mount Duneed, Moriac, Bellbrae, Anglesea, Aireys Inlet and Winchelsea contested the Surf Coast Schools World Cup.
Lorne-Airey’s combined boys beat Bellbrae four-nil in the grand final to clinch the cup.
Lorne-Airey’s went down to Moriac-Ceres in a five-shot penalty shoot-out after tying two-all in the girls’ grand final.
Organiser Joe Taylor said the competition had grown “so big” over six years that cup would include a senior leg later this year.
“We started with just a couple of Bellbrae and Torquay teams and now all local schools are participating,” he said.
“It’s great. We never envisaged it would get so big.”
Mr Taylor said the competition was important to keeping children active.
“Teachers said they had several kids who were previously reluctant to participate in sport really get into the games, which was so great to see.
“The kids are playing in a team, so even though some might not be natural sporty types and normally hang back a bit they’re encouraged to give it a go and end up having a great day.”
Mr Taylor said a further 260 children from years five and six competed on Wednesday.
