ST Elizabeth Technical High (STETHS) will aim for their fifth straight ISSA/Grace rural area Headley Cup championship when they meet first-time finalists Tacky High today at the Alpart Sports Club in Nain, St Elizabeth.

Play in the three-day final is scheduled to commence at 10:00 each morning.

STETHS have already successfully defended the JIIC rural area limited-overs title with victory over rivals Holmwood Technical in February.

Last year’s treble-winning school has won 23 titles overall, and reached their 31st final in 33 years after completing an innings victory over York Castle High in the recent semi-final at Alpart.

In the other last four match-up, the St Mary-based Tacky High defeated Vere Technical High at the GC Foster College to set up a final clash with the reigning champions.

The STETHS squad consists of wrist-spinners Donovan Nelson and Cassius Burton, West Indies youth fast bowler Nicholson Gordon, off-spinner Horane Linton. Three of the top batsmen are Jamaica Under-19 captain Paul Palmer, Vaneil Bromfield and Bryan Gayle.

Clive Ledgister, who has guided Santa Cruz-based school with great success over the last four seasons, said his team is confident and believes that beating Tacky at the semi-final stage last season has helped him to identify his opponent’s strengths and weaknesses.

“We are pretty confident, and though we had some injury concerns earlier in the season, we are over that and have had good preparation. We played them last year and dominated them and I think their game revolves around captain John Campbell’s batting and bowling.

“I’m not overlooking the other talented players in the side but once we take him out of the game we should be in charge of this final,” Ledgister said.

Tacky’s coach, Jefferton Meek, told the Observer yesterday that his team has a 50-50 chance of winning the Headley Cup competition for the first time.

“Our chances are as good as any, though I know that it is going to be difficult because STETHS are like the mecca of schoolboy cricket. It is important not to worry too much about the opponents and concentrate on our game or else we can lose before even starting the match,” he said.

Campbell, who represented West Indies at the Youth World Cup early last year, said he fancies Tacky’s chances against the perennial champions and insisted that his team is much improved this year.

“STETHS are favourites, but at the end of the day, it’s the better team over the three days that will win. We are not affected by the semi-final loss to STETHS last year because we are stronger this time around, so we have a good chance once we play good cricket,” he said.

The talismanic batsman, who also bowls useful off-spin, said he expects effective run-scoring support from fellow left-handers Alwayne Williams and Richard Hamilton. Pace bowler Junior Carr and off-spinning all-rounder Kevin Daley are two major threats with the ball.