STETHS seek win to secure passage

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

Rusea's, Glenmuir, Garvey Maceo and Lennon High, who all have maximum six points from two games, will only need to avoid defeat in this afternoon's final round of games in the inter-zone phase of the daCosta Cup schoolboy, to seal quarter-final places as group winners.

The eight-team quarter-finals will feature the six group winners from the 24-team inter-zone round and the two best second-place finishers.

Unlike Rusea's, Glenmuir, Garvey Maceo and Lennon High, who are all considered safe bets to advance, champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), who lead Group Four with four points, face a dicey situation. Whereas a win against Grange Hill - who lead joint second place team Clarendon College on three points - would see STETHS through, any other result could ruin their title defence.

"Our destiny is in our own hands," said STETHS' coach, Andrew Edwards, whose team has already won the Ben Francis KO Cup.

"We are now leading the group and all we need to do to top the group and advance is to win against Grange Hill."

Advancing

St James High and Marcus Garvey, joint leaders of Group One with four points each, are sitting pretty, as wins against St Mary High (0) and Frome Technical (3) would see them both finish on seven points. With such a result, both teams would advance, one as group winners on goal difference, and the other as one of the best second-place finishers.

With Lennon just needing to avoid defeat against out-of-contention Manchester High, they appear set to progress. However, should Lennon lose and second-place Munro College (3) beat Mannings (1), both Lennon and Munro would finish on six points, leaving goal difference to decide the group winner.

The other teams in contention for the quarter-finals are Spot Valley, who could move to six points with a win against St Mary Technical; Frome Technical, who could top Group One if Marcus Garvey and St James High falter; wounded Clarendon College, who could top the group in the event of a draw between STETHS and Grange Hill; and Old Harbour, if they manage to beat rampaging Garvey Maceo.

Back-to-back wins

In their game at Jarrett Park, Rusea's, fresh from back-to-back Group Two wins against Spot Valley (4-0) and St Mary Technical (5-0), should win easily against out-of-contention Brown's Town. In fact, if top marksman Brian Brown, who has scored six times in his last two games, turns up hungry for more goals, it could be a miserable afternoon for Brown's Town.

"Our aim is to keep on playing good football and getting the desired results," said Rusea's coach Anthony 'Follies' Williams, who shares coaching duties at his alma mater with veteran Emerson 'Diggy' Henry. "Winning is a good habit to have and we intend to keep on winning."

Like Rusea's, Clarendon-based Glenmuir and Garvey Maceo are highly fancied to march into the quarter-finals. However, while Glenmuir should easily get the better of already eliminated Charlemont to win Group Five, Garvey Maceo should be in for a stiff challenge in their Group Six battle against Old Harbour, who must be eyeing one of the second-place spots.

Whereas St James High should have a relatively easy passage against out-of-contention St. Mary High in the feature game at Jarrett Park, Marcus Garvey can expect a robust challenge from Frome Technical, who will most certainly be trying to exploit whatever chances they have of advancing.