Rusea's book inter-zone berth

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

Champions Rusea's High were among the teams that secured places in the inter-zone round of the 2011-12 ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel daCosta Cup yesterday afternoon after their 4-1 win against Frome Technical in the top-of-the-table Zone B clash at the Colin Miller Complex in Lucea, Hanover.

In notching what was their tenth consecutive win of the season, the red-hot 'Russians' lifted their points tally to 30 and placed themselves within a point of sealing the group's lone Ben Francis KO slot. Skipper Nicodia Haughton (2), Anthony Walker and top marksman Brian 'Rambo' Brown - with his 22nd goal, were on target for Rusea's, jointly coached by Anthony 'Follies' Williams and Emerson 'Diggy' Henry.

"We played pretty well today, especially in the first 45 minutes, where we basically won the game," said Williams, who is a former Rusea's daCosta Cup player. "It is good that we managed to stay composed under the circumstances as the players did what was needed to give us a win."

However, while Rusea's and Zone F leaders St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) and Zone I contenders Denbigh High all achieved their inter-zone objectives, other teams such as St James High, Cedric Titus and Buff Bay, who were poised, all suffered setbacks, losing in surprise results.

Surprise loss

Zone C leaders, the previously unbeaten Cedric Titus, who would have advanced to the inter-zone with a win on their home turf against Marcus Garvey, were surprised 2-0. The win consolidated Marcus Garvey's second place position as they moved up 15 points. Despite their loss Cedric Titus remain leaders of the group with 19 points.

In Zone A, Cornwall College's resurgence hit top gear when they surprised the previously unbeaten leaders, St James High 2-1 at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay. Ricardo Wilson, with a double strike, was the hero for the Cornwall College team, which moves up to 17 points, St James still lead the group with 20 points.

In Zone K, leaders Buff Bay had their inter-zone bid thwarted by Happy Grove, who won 4-1. The win lifted Happy Grove back into strong contention in the group as they are now on 12 points. Buff Bay stay leaders with 16 points.

STETHS, who entered their game tied on top of the standings with their opponents Munro College, registered a hard-fought 1-0 win to move to 15 points, taking the first of the group two inter-zone places in the process. Top striker Kevon Farquharson got the game's lone goal.

By virtue of their win, the Andrew Edwards-coached STETHS, with eight wins and a draw from nine games, are on 25 points. Munro, which stays on their pre-game 22 points, is still red-hot favourites to seal the group's second inter-zone slot.

Denbigh High, who has been turning on the thrills in Zone I, dubbed the 'zone of death', copped one of the two inter-zone places after their comprehensive 4-0 win against Kemps Hill, which lifted them to 27 points. Second-place Glenmuir remained on course to join Denbigh with their 3-0 blanking of Garvey Maceo. The win moved them to 22 points.