Semi-final chase - DaCosta Cup hopefuls scramble for top four positions

Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

With one slot already secured by Ben Francis Cup KO champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), the other three semi-final slots will be up for grabs today when the curtain comes down on the quarter-final round of the 2011-12 ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel daCosta Cup rural schoolboy football competition.

Champions Rusea's High and Paul Bogle, the joint leaders of Group Two, will face off with Petersfield and Grange Hill, respectively. In Group One, early qualifier STETHS will lock horns with Glenmuir in one game, while Frome Technical will battle out-of-contention Cedric Titus in the other.

In the feature match of the Jarrett Park double-header, Rusea's only need to avoid defeat to book their semi-final place. However, chances are they will be going after a big win so that should it come down to goal difference to decide the group's winner, they will be in a good stead.

Bogle need a point

In the second Group Two game, Paul Bogle only need to take a point off Grange Hill to move to safety with five points. However, should Grange Hill - who have three points - win, they would not only advance, but could do so as the group winners, depending on the result in the Rusea's versus Petersfield game.

In Group One, there is a most interesting scenario, especially in the big showdown between STETHS and Glenmuir. A draw for STETHS, who lead the group with six points, would see them topping the group, and Glenmuir, who would move to five points, taking the runner-up spot. However, a Glenmuir win would see them taking group honours.

Interestingly, should STETHS beat Glenmuir and third-place Frome Technical, who have one point, defeat (1) Cedric Titus, then Frome would join Glenmuir on four points, leaving goal difference to decide which of them would join STETHS in the semi-finals.

Looking ahead to their game against Petersfield, the astute Anthony 'Follies' Williams, who shares coaching duties at Rusea's with the experienced Emerson 'Diggy' Henry, said their plan is to emerge group winners.

"Our intention is to top the group and we are confident that we will do so," said Williams, whose 'Russians' defeated Grange Hill 1-0 and drew 0-0 with Paul Bogle in the two quarter-final games they have played. "We will be back to full strength with the return of skipper Nicodie Haughton."

Paul Bogle's mission will be somewhat daunting, as while a draw would be good enough for them, should they lose to Grange Hill, who are lurking on three points, they could find themselves out in the cold. In fact, should Grange Hill win and Rusea's lose or draw, Grange would top the group.

In Group One, while a draw would benefit both STETHS and Glenmuir, it is unlikely that such a result would be the preferred option for both teams, as a win for either team would make them the group winner.

In the case of Frome Technical, who with only one point have a minuscule chance of advancing, they should be attacking the out-of-contention Cedric Titus with all guns blazing, as should they manage to catch Glenmuir on four points, goal difference would become the tiebreaker.

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  Today's games

Group One

3 p.m. Frome vs Cedric Titus at Frome Sports Complex

3 p.m. STETHS vs Glenmuir at STETHS

Group Two

1 p.m. Grange Hill vs Paul Bogle at Jarrett Park

3 p.m. Rusea's vs Petersfield at Jarrett Park

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  Standings

Group One

Group Two