Rusea's, Grange Hill in feature KO clash

Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

Reigning daCosta Cup champions Rusea's High School will be among the teams on show this afternoon when action commences in the 2011-12 ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel Ben Francis Cup Knockout with four games across rural Jamaica, all starting at 3 p.m.

The full slate of matches read as follows: Rusea's against Grange Hill at Jarrett Park, in Montego Bay; Old Harbour versus Port Antonio at Dinthill; Cedric Titus against St Mary Technical; and Clarendon College against Glenmuir at Juici Beef Complex.

While all the games are of equal importance since the losers will be eliminated, because of the profile of the teams involved, the game between the unbeaten Rusea's, with their perfect 100 per cent-win record in the daCosta Cup, and Grange Hill High, with two defeats in 10 games, should generate most interest.

"Our first objective was to qualify for the Ben Francis KO and we have done that," said Anthony 'Follies' Williams, who shares coaching duties at Rusea's with Emerson 'Diggy' Henry. "Our second objective is to win the Cup (Ben Francis KO), and that is where our focus is at this time."

Formidable opponents

Despite the supreme confidence in the camp of the seemingly invincible Rusea's outfit, many pundits are predicting that while they are still tipped to win, they could be seriously tested for the first time, as Grange Hill are being viewed as quite formidable.

The mid-island clash between the unbeaten Glenmuir and Clarendon College should also generate a lot of fireworks. In addition to being former champions, both teams have been advertising championship qualities all season and, like Rusea's, should be eyeing both rural titles - daCosta Cup and Ben Francis KO.

While the contenders are not traditional trophy winners, the other two scheduled games, which will see Cedric Titus battling St Mary Technical and Old Harbour taking on Port Antonio, should also produce good football, especially if there is a spillover from the teams' preliminary campaign in the daCosta Cup.

St Mary Technical and Cedric Titus appear equally matched based on their win-lose ratio in the daCosta Cup, which saw St Mary Technical losing only once in eight games, and Cedric Titus losing once in 10 outings.

In the case of Old Harbour and Port Antonio, the Old Harbour team should start favourites based on the strength of the zone from which they advanced.

Reigning champions St Elizabeth Technical High School and the other Ben Francis KO qualifiers, will bow into action in Saturday's second round of matches.