daCosta cup finalists - Rusea's ready to explode
Published:Saturday | December 4, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Adrian Frater, News Editor
Western Bureau:
Rusea's High, the third most successful team in the annals of the daCosta Cup, behind Cornwall College and Vere Technical, have not won a title since 2002. However, based on their dazzling form this season, many feel the 'Russians' eight-year drought will end today.
"We know what we have to do and we are confident we will do it," said Anthony 'Follies' Williams, who shares coaching duties at Rusea's with the veteran Emerson 'Diggy' Henry. "We saw Lennon in the quarter-finals and we know what to expect from them."
While not having the profile of their all-conquering 1985 team, which cemented their place in history by becoming the only team to win the daCosta Cup, Ben Francis Cup, Olivier Shield and the now defunct Nutrament Shield in one season, this year's Rusea's team is full of talent and should prove hard to beat.
Early signs
From their first game this season when they spanked Maldon 3-0 in a Zone B game, the 'Russ-ians' looked like legitimate title contenders. It was therefore no surprise that they went on to win seven of their eight games, which earned them a place in the Ben Francis KO.
While they faltered in the Ben Francis KO, losing 2-1 to Manning's, the 'Russians' remained relentless in the daCosta Cup, easily topping Group Two of the inter-zone round after beating Spot Valley 4-0, St Mary Technical 5-0 and Brown's Town 3-0.
"The daCosta Cup is our primary focus," said coach Williams, after the Ben Francis KO loss to Manning's. "The daCosta Cup is the title we really want."
In the quarter-finals, it was more 'Russian' power on display as after drawing 0-0 with Lennon, they followed up with a 3-0 spanking of Garvey Maceo and a 3-1 effort against Old Harbour High to bounce into the semi-final in fine style.
Having registered a 2-1 win against St James High 2-1 in their semi-final, it is now only Lennon who are standing between Rusea's and a ninth title, which would pull them level with Vere Technical on the all-time list.
"We have prepared ourselves well for this final and the players are aware of the task before them," said coach Williams. "So it is now for them to execute."
With an impressive season record of 13 wins and two draws from 15 games, the confidence in the Rusea's camp is quite understandable.
- daCosta Cup roll call
- 1950: Munro College
- 1951: Munro College
- 1952: Munro College
- 1953: Cornwall College
- 1954: No competition (polio epidemic)
- 1955: Cornwall College
- 1956: Cornwall College
- 1957: Munro College
- 1958: Cornwall College
- 1959: Cornwall College
- 1960: Abandoned
- 1961: Munro College
- 1962: Munro College
- 1963: Cornwall College
- 1964: Munro College
- 1965: Vere Technical
- 1966: No competition
- 1967: Vere Technical
- 1968: Vere Technical
- 1969: Vere Technical
- 1970: Vere Technical
- 1971: Vere Technical
- 1972: Abandoned
- 1973: No competition
- 1974: STETHS
- 1975: Vere Technical
- 1976: Vere Technical
- 1977: Clarendon College
- 1978: Clarendon College
- 1979: Dinthill Technical
- 1980: Vere Technical
- 1981: Dinthill Technical
- 1982: Cornwall College
- 1983: Cornwall College
- 1984: Rusea's Comprehensive
- 1985: Rusea's Comprehensive
- 1986: Herbert Morrison Technical
- 1987: Rusea's Comprehensive
- 1988: Herbert Morrison
- 1989: Rusea's Comprehensive
- 1990: Rusea's Comprehensive
- 1991: Clarendon College
- 1992: Rusea's Comprehensive
- 1993: Rusea's Comprehensive
- 1994: Clarendon College
- 1995: Cornwall College
- 1996: Clarendon College
- 1997: Abandoned
- 1998: Clarendon College
- 1999: STETHS
- 2000: Cornwall College
- 2001: Cornwall College
- 2002: Rusea's High
- 2003: Frome Technical
- 2004: Glenmuir High
- 2005: Godfrey Stewart
- 2006: Glenmuir High
- 2007: Garvey Maceo
- 2008: St James High
- 2009: STETHS
- 2010: ???