Hot battles ahead in cup action

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

Champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), who drew a first-round bye, will begin the defence of their ISSA/ Gatorade/Digicel Ben Francis Cup Knockout title this afternoon when they play host to Cedric Titus in one of four scheduled second-round games, all starting at 3 p.m.

In the other games down for contention, four-time champions Rusea's will battle 2008 champions St James High School at Jarrett Park, in Montego Bay; Manchester High School will oppose Glenmuir at Kirkvine, in Manchester; and Old Harbour High School play away to Paul Bogle High School at York Oval, in St Thomas.

STETHS favourites

Based on their preliminary-round record in Zone F of the daCosta Cup, in which they won 11 games and drew one in 12 outings, the Andrew Edwards-coached STETHS should start firm favourites against Cedric Titus, who completed a first-round penalty shoot-out against St Mary Technical on Friday morning.

Having prevailed in a gripping first-round penalty shoot-out win against St Mary Technical, the Cedric Titus camp is cautiously optimistic going up against the rampant STETHS, with their awesome 68 goals for and one against daCosta Cup preliminary-round record.

"This is the first time we are making it to this stage in any senior competition," said Wade Crawford, coach of Cedric Titus. "There is a very good feeling in the camp and we will definitely be throwing all we have at STETHS."

In the Rusea's versus St James High game at Jarrett Park, a lot of fireworks are expected as the 'Russians', who had a less-than-impressive 1-0 first-round win against Grange Hill, seek to return to top form against St James High, who are seemingly struggling to hit stride.

"We did not play as well as we should against Grange Hill," said Rusea's coach Anthony 'Follies' Williams, whose team has a perfect 100 per cent win record in the 13 games they had played between the daCosta Cup and Ben Francis Cup. "We will definitely be aiming to be at our best against St James High."

However, St James High's coach Gregory Palmer, whose team won Zone A of the daCosta Cup with seven wins, three draws and two defeats, is ready to test the mettle of the 'Russians'.

"We have prepared well and we aim to give this game our best shot," said Palmer. "At the start of the season, no one expected us to do this well but we are a team with a lot of self-belief."

Buoyed by their impressive 3-1 first-round win against Clarendon College, the unbeaten Glenmuir High are full of confidence going up against Manchester High, who went through Zone G of the daCosta Cup unbeaten.

In the last of the four scheduled games, Old Harbour High School, who started their campaign on Wednesday with a 2-0 win against Port Antonio, should start favourites against Paul Bogle. However, to slight the St Thomas team could be to their detriment, as Paul Bogle have only loss once all season.