IN a repeat of last year’s final, double defending champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) and Manchester High will go head-to-head in the rural area Grace Limited Overs schoolboy cricket finals in Santa Cruz, starting at 10:00 am.

STETHS, who also won the Headley Cup last year for a record 22 times, will start as favourites, and even moreso, they’re at home, with a large number of the school population behind them.

Moulded by Super League champion coach Barry Barnes, Manchester has developed into a competitive bunch.

In what transpired to be a pulsating final last year at Manchester High grounds, the hosts lost by seven runs.

Another epic battle is being anticipated after each side waltzed to the final virtually unfazed, and the two teams prepare to fight for the first silverware of the season.

As for STETHS, they will be seeking to add to their impressive record of winning trophies. Should they win today’s game, they could go on to become the first team to win the double back-to-back since the KO contest was introduced.

That’s no way a pipe dream by STETHS’ standards as they will have the services of National Under-19 captain Paul Palmer Jnr, Donovan Nelson, a former National Under-15 and Under-19 skipper, amongst others.

However, STETHS opener Brian Gayle is the in-form man with the bat heading into the final, after scoring 109 in the semi-final against arch-rivals Holmwood.

Gayle is likely to receive support from Desmond Jones and fellow opener Sheldon Samuels, and with the prospect of Nelson and Palmer yet to be playing at their best, the champions look unbeatable on paper.

Manchester, in the meantime, lost Brian Clarke, Christopher Gayle and Kemoy Daye, but Barnes thinks this bunch is better than the previous year on the basis of their commitment and high work-rate and is unperturbed about playing the final at STETHS.

“I think it’s the best opportunity not to play at home,” Barnes said in an interview yesterday.

“In fact, I believe that STETHS has more to lose…, they’re playing at home and are the defending champions, so everybody expecting them to win.”

But the visitors will be going for glory for all it’s worth. After all, it’s the final year for captain Courtney Allen, and according to Barnes, the players want to ensure that their leader finishes his schoolboy career with a silverware, which has proved elusive so far.

Allen, who has developed into a solid all-rounder, is likely to be supported by national Under-15 batsman Oshane Walters and Terrence Dixon, as well as left-hand batsman Sherdon Allen.

In the bowling department, Barnes will look to former national youth player Jonathon Solomon and Lethan Leslie, whose 10-ball 34 in last year’s final took them within inches of what would have been a remarkable victory.