Front-runners look to maintain momentum

Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

Teams will be seeking to consolidate positions atop their groups this afternoon when the curtain comes down on the first round of the 2011-12 ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel daCosta Cup.

There will be a full slate of matches in all 12 zones of the competition.

Among the teams that should attract much attention are champions Rusea's, St James High, Grange Hill, St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), Edwin Allen, Manchester High, Glenmuir, Tacius Golding and Buff Bay, who are all sporting proud unbeaten records.

Champions Rusea's, with maximum 15 points from five games, should continue their winning ways at the expense of Maldon, who have tasted defeat in four of five games. The spotlight could well be on star striker Brian 'Rambo' Brown who has scored six goals in his last two games and has a grand tally of 13.

"We just want to end the round on a winning note," said Anthony 'Follies' Williams, the coach of Rusea's. "In the next round we will be looking at preparing ourselves to make a serious bid at winning the Ben Francis Cup."

Having conquered all before them, 2008 champions St James High, with maximum 15 points from five games, should start favourites despite playing away to Irwin High, who have only managed a measly five points from five games. However, Irwin should be no pushover as, at their best, they have the capacity to do well.

In Zone E, it should be a lot of fireworks in the top-of-the-table clash between leaders Grange Hill (12), with a perfect win record from four games, and home team Manning's who are second on 10 points, having secured three wins and a draw in four games.

In Zone F, leaders STETHS (15) are favoured to make it six from six when they lock horns with fourth-place DeCarteret (eight), playing away on their opponent's home turf. Second-place Munro College (13) should take maximum three points off struggling Balaclava High (five) in their backyard at Malvern.

In Zone G, it should be a battle royal in the top-of-the-table clash between leaders Manchester High, unbeaten on 14 points, and Knox College, who are also unbeaten, on 11 points. Interestingly, while Manchester High are the group's most prolific team with 15 goals, Knox are yet to concede a goal.

The stakes will also be high in Zone I, where former champions Glenmuir, who have four wins and a draw in five games and second in the group, come face-to-face with red-hot group leaders Denbigh High, who have five wins and one defeat in six outings.