Champions Rusea's gunning to consolidate

Western Bureau:Champions Rusea's High will be among the teams going for back-to-back wins this afternoon when the inter-zone round of the 2011 ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel daCosta Cup move into its second round with a full slate of 24 games in six groups.

Rusea's, who were first-round winners along with Cedric Titus, Marcus Garvey Technical, Manchester High School, Buff Bay High School, Glenmuir, Paul Bogle High and Port Antonio High, will take on first round losers St Mary Technical in a Group Two game, the feature game of a Jarrett Park double-header.

"Our main objective at the start of the season was retaining the daCosta Cup and our mission remains the same," said Anthony 'Follies' Williams, the co-coach at Rusea's with Emerson 'Diggy' Henry. "We are yet to lose a game in open play and we intend to keep it that way."

Newly crowned Ben Francis KO champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), who were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw by Knox College in their first-round Group Four fixture, should face another stiff test today in the form of Clarendon College, who had a surprise 1-1 first round draw against Petersfield High School.

"We did not do as well as we should against Knox but we finished the game quite strong," said STETHS's coach Andrew Edwards. "We will definitely be ready for this game against Clarendon College."

Group Five clash

One game that should be keenly watched is the Group Five clash at the Juici Patties Complex in Clarendon between first-round winners Glenmuir, who spanked St Thomas Technical 6-2, and Port Antonio High, who stopped Tacius Golding 3-1. The winners will become the red-hot favourites to win the group.

The 1 p.m. Jarrett Park Group One curtain-raiser between first-round winners Cedric Titus and St James High, who lost 1-0 to Frome Technical, should be an interesting affair. A loss or even a draw for St James High could send them tumbling out of the competition.

Knox College, buoyed by their surprise 1-1 draw against STETHS, should have their mettle severely tested when they journey to the Frome Sports Ground in Westmoreland for their Group Four game against Petersfield.