Junior football was on show over the weekend, as teams flocked to Darebin and Casey to compete in the first round of the 2022 Summer Cup. The tournament is proudly presented by Senol, who continue to support our game from the grassroots to the elite levels.
The Summer Cup is designed for juniors from Under-8 to Under-17 to get together one last time before the end of year break.
This weekend marked the first round of the 2022 edition, with the second round to take place next weekend and the finals series poised for Saturday, December 10
The tournament kicked off with a bang as high-scoring, entertaining football was on display across both venues. There were stunning goals, tight contests and plenty of competition in both the boys and girls divisions.
North-West | Darebin
The Elite 8s lived up to their name in the Under-8 Boys competition at Darebin, securing a 6-0 win to seize top spot in the group. Greenvale United also enjoyed a big win, defeating RTFC 5-0 to sit narrowly behind Elite 8s on goal difference.
The Under-9 Boys division has been split into two pools due to team entries and goals were flying in across the games. An incredible 35 goals were scored in six fixtures. Port Melbourne Sharks and FC Bulleen were the biggest winners, both ending the day with perfect records and goal differences of +8 and +7 respectively.
The Middle Park Hornets emerged as the team to beat in the Under-10 Boys, scoring nine goals in their single fixture to claim top spot. Pascoe Vale and Williams Landing played out a tough 0-0 draw.
The Under-11 Boys competition is delicately poised after week one. Williamstown SC and Keon Park FC ended the day as the only undefeated teams out of seven in the division with Williamstown looking particularly dominant, scoring 13 and keeping two clean sheets across both their games.
Split into two pools, the Under 13/14 Boys had a number of close matches but ultimately two leaders emerged. Port Melbourne Sharks 14s went undefeated in Pool 1 and YTSSC went undefeated in Pool 2. West Point, Brunswick Royals, RSF and Port Melbourne Sharks 13s all picked up a win each though, meaning the competition is well and truly alive heading into week two.
The final group in the North-West Summer Cup, the Under-15s ended the day as the tightest. East Kew JFC, Watsonia Heights FC and Kensington JSC all left on equal points after two games each with almost identical goal difference.
South-East| Casey
In Melbourne's South-East the Boroondara Eagles took control of the Under 8/9 Boys division with two wins out of two. JKO Academy sit second after a hard fought 2-1 win over Casey Comets Super Stars U8.
The Seaford Tigers started their Under 10/11 campaign with a 2-2 draw against Hampton Park before finding their scoring touch, bagging an incredible 37 goals in their next two games. FSA followed a similar story line, enjoying two big wins before also being held by Hampton Park 1-1.
The Under 11/12 Girls competition is another which has been split into multiple pools, with Southern United and DOC Football Academy leading Pool 1. The group is tightly contested however and bother Monash Villarreal and Gippy Girls U11 will feel capable of turning this around in week two. In Pool 2, Gippy Girls U12 took the lead after a close game but once again the group remains open and there wasn't much separating the sides.
Casey Comets U12 All Stars lead the way in the Under 12 Boys, defeating the Eastern Lions before drawing to the Brighton Demons.
The Club also lead in the Under 15 Boys division after weekend one, sharing top spot with Lynbrook Falcons after both sides won two and drew one of their opening three games. Beaumaris Sharks SC sit narrowly behind on five points, while Sahaba FC could climb the ranks quickly with a strong second week.