The penultimate round of matches in the ISSA/JHF School Under-16 Hockey League gets going this afternoon with the battle for third place for boys and girls.

Papine High boys tackle Tivoli Gardens High at 4:00 pm, after Papine High girls meet Excelsior High at 3:00 pm.

With both teams finishing runners-up in their zones, the boys’ third-place play-off promises to be exciting.

Tivoli High were bettered only by defending champions Munro College in Zone A though losing a match in the preliminary, while Papine High ended with 10 points like Zone B leaders Mona High, who had a better goal difference by three, after three wins and a draw.

Papine boys possess an all-round team with Warrick Blake leading the way with three goals. But he will get back-up from players such as Najjae McDermott, Mario Anderson, and Brandon Campbell, who all scored this season.

Tivoli High, meanwhile, boasting the league’s leading goal-scorer in Javor Gilbert whose tally stands at six, also have a group of players capable of clinching third spot.

Jahneil Manning and Abina Lawrence, supported by Andre Bromley, Anthony Morris, Clive Douglas and Shaquille Howell, the West Kingston boys have the potential to finish in the top three so long as they stand up to any pressure thrown their way by Papine High.

For the girls, both Excelsior and Papine were drawn in Group B and in their only encounter, they ended goalless.

Coached by Andrew Hoo Thomas, Papine girls do have the better players especially in Samantha Jones and Chakira Airey, both match-winners.

However, should Excelsior’s Shauna-Kay Gordon, a skilled player, get sufficient support in attack, this match could well be decided by penalty shoot-outs.