Cricketing rivalries came to the fore as children battled it out in the annual Mini Cup Match game yesterday.

Youngsters aged from 8 to 11 represented Somerset and St George’s at the Devonshire Recreation Club, a week before the men’s teams will do the same in the big match in the East End.

St George’s emerged victorious by 22 runs in front of an excited crowd of family and friends.

The Mini Cup Match cricket programme, which is run by the Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation, consisted of children from government-run summer camps from across the island.

They included Treazi Gibbons, 10, who supports St George’s out of loyalty to his father Treadwell Gibbons, the Cup Match batsman.

Another St George’s supporter, Sailahn Martin, 11, said: “It’s my home town and that’s where I was born and raised.”

But St David’s resident Zamir Tucker-Caines, also 11, said that she considered switching her allegiance.

She said: “If St George’s doesn’t win this year I might have to go with Somerset.”

Somerset player Torano Young, 11, said he supported the West Enders because “Somerset is a positive team, if someone misses the ball they always say ‘good try’”.

He was supported by team-mate Logan Chadwick, 11, who said: “Somerset encourages their players if they make a mistake.”

Logan added: “If we win, we can celebrate our victory but if we lose we can learn from our mistakes.”

Sports minister Lovitta Foggo, who attended the event, said: “It’s a good way of showcasing those who have talent in cricket. It sort of whets their appetite. It gives them a feel of what Cup Match feels like at a young age.”

She added: “It’s a nice community event, the children have good clean fun.”

Children from St George’s Community Centre, Sandys Community Centre, Bermudez, Boys to Men, Hibiscus, Onions, and Paw Paws took part in the match.