Traditional rivals STETHS, Holmwood in title hunt

Richard Bryan, Gleaner Writer

Old rivals St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) and Holmwood Technical will square off this morning in the Jamaica International Insurance Company (JIIC)-sponsored Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) rural area high schools knockout cricket final, at the Manchester High School playing field in Mandeville.

Bowl-off time is slated for 10 a.m. with each team allotted 35 overs.

In the semi-finals STETHS, winners in 2009 and 2010, easily defeated Manchester High, the same team they have beaten in the last two finals.

In the other semi-final, Holmwood got the better of Old Harbour High by 36 runs at Port Esquivel Sports Ground.

Quite interestingly, Holmwood won the inaugural final in 2008, beating Vere Technical at STETHS. The two have not featured in a final for some time now, but while STETHS are regarded as a cinch, owing to their supremacy in every form of the game in the last four years, plus the fact that they are missing only one player from last year's victorious squad, coach Clive Legister relishes the challenge to be facing Holmwood.

"Cricket is better when it is competitive, and whether we win or lose, we always expect to have a competitive game against Holmwood," said Legister.

However, the performers from the respective semi-finals are likely to prove the important players.

Unmatched challenge

Against Manchester High, the champions batted first and piled up an imposing 248 for seven, with captain Paul Palmer Jr leading the way with 78 and his Jamaica Under-19 teammate, Brian Gayle, getting 47.

Manchester High hardly made a challenge of getting the runs and folded for 112 in 27 overs. Leg-spinner Cassius Burton Jr did most damage, snaring four for 24 off seven overs.

Additionally, STETHS's team is laden with current Jamaica youth squad members and possesses bowling and batting depth.

Holmwood were able to defend 166 for nine off their allotted 35 overs with captain Taswayne Creary, the younger brother of Andre - who also captained Holmwood - top-scoring with 55. Old Harbour fell short after being bowled out for 130, with just over two overs remaining.

Spinner Rohan McKenzie then piloted the way with four wickets while Demar Davis, who contributed 36 with the bat, got two wickets.