STGC, C’Down hunt points in Group H clash
ST George’s College will seek to take one step closer to the semi-final round when they battle Group H opponents Camperdown High in today’s 3:00 pm feature clash of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Gatorade/Digicel Manning Cup competition at the Constant Spring football field.
In the opening game of the double-header at the venue, Calabar High take on Penwood High at 1:00 pm.
St George’s and Calabar are on three points each, while Camperdown and Penwood sit at the base of the group, without a point.
Only the top team from each of the four second round groups will advance to the semis.
St George’s won back-to-back Manning Cup titles in 2008 and 2009 and are already into the final of the Walker Cup Knockout competition.
Coach Neville ‘Bertis’ Bell stressed the need to continue winning and added he is wary of a “quality” Camperdown team, which is desperate for victory to remain in contention.
“It is most important for us to continue our winning ways. I’m expecting a tough game because Camperdown have to win. They are a quality team and they have a good coach,” he told the Observer yesterday.
The ‘Light Blues’ breezed through the preliminary stage and continued their good form in the second round with a 4-0 beating of Penwood High, but Bell said his free-scoring team remains focused.
“We are very aware that though we have played well this season we haven’t won anything as yet. Reaching this stage of the competition is very serious because if you slip you can slide. We just need to continue doing what we have been doing and try to remain in the competition,” he said.
Camperdown, which last won the Manning Cup in 1982, ended second on goal difference to Group D rivals Jamaica College (JC) in the first phase.
Guided this season by Christopher Bender, the East Kingston-based team has put in solid performances, but they started the second round on a losing note, going down 1-2 to Calabar.
Bender explained that his team is not short of motivation in the lead-up to the match.
“It is a simple situation for us. We can’t think of drawing or losing this game. We just have to win to save our season. The team is calm and we are motivated because we are playing one of the better teams in the competition. We have to put our training performances into this match situation and just enjoy our football. One thing I’m sure of is that we will give it our all,” he said.
