South-west soccer star Benjy Hawkins looking to improve for nationals

The 16-year-old, who is part of the South West Academy of Sport's new Football and Futsal Youth Development and High Performance Program, scored three goals and had a number of assists in the two-day tournament last week.

Vic Country's under 16 side defeated its under 15 counterparts in an entertaining final, which ended 5-4 with a goal in the final seconds of the match.

"It was good as we weren't expecting to get the win as the other Vic Country team have won the nationals three years in a row," Hawkins said of the win.

"It was good to beat them and also win against the other strong team, which was one of the biggest in competition, in Vic metro.

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"Our keeper had it (in the final moments of the final) and all the whistles had gone so it was the last play before it would go to penalties and our keeper kicked it to our right mid and he had a shot which rebounded to another mid, who had a shot and scored."

Hawkins, who is entering year 11 at Emmanuel College, played mostly on the right flank but spent time as a pivot defender during the tournament.

The Port Fairy resident is looking to improve ahead of the national titles over the Easter Weekend.

"There is a lot of stuff I would change about my game and learning form things I did. There is plenty of learning points," the right footer said.

Hawkins and his Vic Country teammates earned a spot in the final after beating their Metro counterparts in penalties after their game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Earlier in the tournament Metro beat Country, who had defeated a Melbourne United team and Blue Marvels in the pool games.

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