High-riding Rusea's aim to crush Knockalva

Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

Champions Rusea's, fresh from last Saturday's 10-0 hammering of Green Island High School, will be back on the prowl this afternoon when they tackle traditional Zone B weaklings Knockalva High, in the 2011-12 ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel daCosta Cup, with action in 10 of the 12 competing zones.

Knockalva, who started their campaign on a losing note on Monday - going down 4-1 to little-fancied Merlene Ottey - will not have happy memories going up against the 'Russians', as the last time they met, in the 2008 season, they were comprehensively spanked 5-1 and 5-0. Knockalva did not compete in 2009 and 2010.

While Knockalva might be considered easy pickings, Anthony 'Follies' Williams, co-coach of Rusea's with Emerson 'Diggy' Henry, has made it quite clear that the 10-0 win against Green Island will be the standard they will be using to define their title defence this year.

"We will be treating every game quite seriously, regardless of the opponent," said Williams. "Our plan is to use the 10-0 win against Green Island as our benchmark as we seek to defend our title."

Over in Zone F, St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), the 2009 champions, who started their campaign with a big 5-0 win against DeCarteret, should be gunning to make a big statement against Balaclava High, who gave a creditable performance in their opening-game 2-1 loss to Munro, but subsequently drew 2-2 with DeCarteret College.

"We did not play as well as we could against DeCarteret so we will definitely be looking to give an improved performance against Balaclava," said STETHS coach Andrew Edwards.

In Zone A, 2008 champions St James High School, who still have players from the 2008 championship-winning team, will be making their season debut against Green Pond High, who clipped them 4-1 in their first encounter last year, but were humbled 3-0 in the second game. Interestingly, Green Pond started their season on a losing note, going down 1-0 to William Knibb on Monday.

In Zone G, group favourites Manchester High, who started their season with a 4-0 win against Mile Gully but were later held to a 0-0 draw by Knox College, should have a field day against a Holmwood team which has been showing sieve-like qualities, giving up nine goals in the two games they have played.

With Zone G steep in quality, as it includes teams like Bellefield High, Spaldings High and Knox, in the hunt for the two inter-zone places, Manchester High must be cognisant of the fact that any slip-up could land them behind the eight ball in the race for group honours.