Shield battle at Constant Spring

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

All-island supremacy in schoolboy football will be on the line this afternoon when Manning Cup winners Jamaica College (JC) face daCosta Cup kings Rusea's High in the first leg of Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Pepsi/ Digicel Olivier Shield play-off at the Constant Spring Sports Complex. Match time is set for 3 p.m.

JC will be seeking to capture all three senior schoolboy football titles on offer for the first time in their history; having wrapped up their second Walker Cup title last week with a 3-1 win over Bridgeport High to go with their 21st Manning Cup crown.

The Old Hope Road-based school will be aiming to get their 17th hold on the Shield, with the most recent coming three years ago. JC have been one of the most prolific scorers this season and will once again be looking to outscore their opponents, through leading marksman Ashani Walker (17 goals) and Nicholas Scott with 15.

Rusea's advanced to the all-island final after clipping first-time finalists, Lennon High 1-0 to take their ninth daCosta Cup title. They will look to leading goalscorer Brian Brown (20 goals) and Anthony Walker (nine) to guide them to their seventh lien on the Shield.

Anthony 'Follies' Williams, who shares coaching duties at Rusea's with Emerson 'Diggy' Henry, said winning the daCosta Cup was their main objective but they will give of their best in the Olivier Shield.

Not much pressure

"We would have achieved the ultimate in winning the daCosta Cup for 2010, so I think the pressure is not as much in the Olivier Shield," said Henry. "But once you go into a final, you want to claim the ultimate prize and the Olivier Shield is the symbol of schoolboy football supremacy in Jamaica, so each team that plays in the Olivier Shield would want to crown themselves champions," he added.

With the return leg slated for Saturday at Jarrett Park, Henry will be approaching the first leg with caution.

"We are optimistic and we are also cognizant of the fact that Jamaica College is a quality team, so we know we are going to be up against it," Henry disclosed. "We are going to remain cautious and as long as the boys can remain disciplined and remain focused the result that we desire should be forthcoming."

JC's assistant coach, Delroy Brown, who is usually more than willing to comment on his team's prospects, declined to comment on his team's chances in the Olivier Shield first leg when contacted yesterday.

The Dark Blues will, no doubt, be pinning their hopes on inspirational captain Ashani Walker who scored twice in the Walker Cup final and can be a real handful in the 18-yard box if given the room to unveil his bag of tricks.