Grange Hill set to pressure Rusea's again

Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

Champions Rusea's and Ben Francis KO champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) will be among the teams on show this afternoon when the 2011 ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel daCosta Cup moves into its crucial quarter-final stage, with action in three games all starting at three o'clock.

Rusea's, buoyed by their impressive 100 per cent win record in the inter-zone round, will meet the enterprising Grange Hill High in the lone Group Two game - a big western Jamaica derby at Frome Sports Ground in Westmoreland.

The other Group Two game between Paul Bogle and the winner of yesterday's special play-off game between Buff Bay and Petersfield, who both completed their inter-zone campaign with the identical record, will be played on Monday at York Oval in St Thomas.

Surprise package

In Group One, the highly rated STETHS, which won their inter-zone group on goal difference, will square off with Frome Technical, which advanced to the quarter-finals via the same route, while the red-hot Glenmuir will battle surprise package Cedric Titus High in the other game.

The Rusea's-Grange Hill clash has all the hallmarks of a classic as, in addition to being in fine fettle, the teams provided a real treat when they met in the Ben Francis KO. Rusea's won that game 1-0 after surviving a stern examination by the Grange Hill team, which enjoyed long periods of dominance.

With star striker Brian 'Rambo' Brown back in top form after a mini slump, the Russians will be hoping that he will be adding a few goals to his already impressive overall tally of 31.

Having withstood the challenge of Manchester High and Lennon High, Grange Hill should enter this game with the biblical sensation of a David pursuing Goliath, as they have no legitimate reason to fear the Russians on the familiar Frome Sports Ground turf.

STETHS, which looked vulnerable if not tired in their last inter-zone game against Petersfield, are expected to change gear against Frome, which was most impressive in their inter-zone campaign.

Confident

"Our objective for the season has not changed, our plan is to win all three titles this season," said STETHS' coach Andrew Edwards. "We have already won the Ben Francis Cup and our next target is the daCosta Cup, and we are confident we are going to get it."

After surviving the assault of St James High and St Mary High in their inter-zone campaign, the 2003 champions should be fairly confident, especially after seeing STETHS struggling against their parish neighbours Petersfield on Wednesday.

In the day's other game, the silky smooth Glenmuir, which have been unbeaten and looking increasingly ominous with each game, should start favourites against the ambitious Cedric Titus, who were not among the teams favoured to reach this far in the competition.

However, having gotten this far while surviving longer than many quality teams, Cedric Titus should not be fazed by their opponents' reputation, albeit that they are not getting a lot of respect from the pundits.

Today's games

• 3 p.m., STETHS vs Frome at STETHS
  
• 3 p.m., Glenmuir vs Cedric Titus at Jucci Patties Complex
  
• 3 p.m., Grange Hill vs Rusea's at Frome Sports Ground