Champions STETHS set to qualify

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

Three teams, including champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), have live shots at booking their places in the inter-zone round of the 2010 ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup rural area senior schoolboy football competition, when action resumes this afternoon at 3:30 with a full-slate of matches.

With eight-time champions Rusea's already assured of their inter-zone slot, Zone D leaders Marcus Garvey Technical and either Zone F leader Munro College (19) or champions STETHS (17) - who will be involved in a top-of-the-table clash - will join them with a win today.

While a draw will be good enough for Munro College, for the winner of the competition's inaugural staging in 1950, STETHS, to have the honour of being the zone's first qualifier, they must end Munro's seven-game unbeaten run. The teams played to a 0-0 stalemate in the first round.

In the case of Marcus Garvey Technical, who have been rolling along merrily in Zone C with six wins and a draw from their seven outings, another win against Ocho Rios today would give them an unassailable 22 points, which would not only give them an inter-zone place but also the group's Ben Francis Knockout slot.

Securing places

While the stakes might not be as high as the games featuring STETHS, Munro and Marcus Garvey, there are several mouth-watering clashes which could go a long way in deciding the teams that will ultimately secure places in the competition's next round, if not the coveted Ben Francis Knockout, which is reserved for zone winners.

One such game is the Zone A clash between leaders St James High (14) and arch-rivals Cornwall College (12), who share second place with Muschett High.

Interestingly, Muschett also face a tricky matchup with Spot Valley (10), who could move into second place with a win.

Based on the quality opponents to come, a win for either St James High or Cornwall College could open up a clear path into the inter-zone round. However, a defeat would drive fresh energy into the campaign of Muschett and fourth-place Spot Valley (10).

"We take a game against Cornwall College very seriously because it comes with bragging rights," said St James High's coach Hugh Solomon, whose team won the first-round game 2-0.

He added: "Our aim is to repeat our first-round performance in this game."

While Rusea's are assured of their inter-zone spot, they will be facing a tough opponent, Frome Technical (6), who no doubt will be gunning to tarnish their unbeaten record and bolster their chances of taking the group's second slot ahead of Herbert Morrison, who also have six points.

While Rusea's have played six games, Herbert Morrison and Frome have only played four and three games, respectively.

Today's matches

Zone A: Cornwall vs St James at Jarrett Park, Green Pond vs William Knibb at Cornwall Courts, Spot Valley vs Muschett at Barrett Town

Zone B: Rusea's vs Frome at Rusea's, Maldon vs Hopewell at Maldon

Zone C: York Castle vs Brown's Town at York Castle, Albert Town vs Cedric Titus at Albert Town, Marcus Garvey vs Ocho Rios at Drax Hall

Zone D: St Mary Tech vs St Mary High at Richmond Farm Prison, Iona vs Brimmer Vale at Rio Nuevo, Islington vs Annotto Bay at Islington

Zone E: Maud McLeod vs Little London at Maud McLeod, Petersfield vs Godfrey Stewart at Petersfield, Manning's vs Grange Hill at Manning's

Zone F: Munro vs STETHS at Munro, Maggotty vs Mile Gully at Maggotty, Lacovia vs DeCarteret at Lacovia

Zone G: Manchester vs Porus at Manchester, Spaldings vs Cross Keys at Spaldings, Christiana vs Alston at Christiana

Zone H: Edwin Allen vs Vere at Edwin Allen, Thompson Town vs Lennon at Thompson Town

Zone I: Garvey Maceo vs Glenmuir at Garvey Maceo, Tacius Golding vs Kemps Hill at Bodles, Central vs Denbigh at Central

Zone J: Dinthill vs Old Harbour at Dinthill, McGrath vs Charlemont at McGrath

Zone K: Port Antonio vs Titchfield at Carder Park, Fair Prospect vs Happy Grove at Fair Prospect.

Zone L: Morant Bay vs Paul Bogle at Morant Bay, Robert Lightbourne vs Yallahs at Robert Lightbourne.