MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Coach Barry Barnes is hoping Manchester High’s recent triumph in the ISSA/GraceKennedy Headley Cup for rural schools will lay a foundation for future success in schoolboy cricket. The Mandeville-based school scored a comfortable 90-run victory over hosts Vere Technical High School in their three-day final two Fridays ago in Hayes, Clarendon.

It was Manchester’s third attempt at the title, having over recent years played second fiddle to traditional kingpins, St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), who weren’t involved in the decider for the first time in seven years.

Manchester High will aim for even greater glory starting today when they face urban champions Wolmer’s Boys’ School for the three-day, all-island Spaulding Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Club in Kingston.

With only two players from the current squad leaving school for the next academic year, Barnes said Manchester High are now looking to build a winning streak over the next several years.

“This is a good start for the school so, hopefully, this can be the first of many more,” he said. “We have a really good programme at Manchester High where we try to build from the ground up with the younger players coming straight out of the primary school system,” he added.

This success also represents a huge milestone for Barnes, who has led the Manchester parish team to numerous national titles, but was winning his first schoolboy trophy.

While describing the victory as a special moment for himself, he dedicated the victory to departing captain Oshane Walters, also the captain of the Jamaica Under-19 team, and school principal Jasford Gabriel.

“This one is definitely for Oshane Walters,” Barnes told the Jamaica Observer, “he has been at the school for seven years, so this is a fitting way to send him off to university with a trophy under his belt because he has been a good leader for us.”

He added: “This one is also for the principal, especially. He has been with us through thick and thin, so this is a good way to say thanks.”

Gabriel, who was among the large band of supporters who turned up in south-east Clarendon to kick-start the celebrations which extended to the streets of Mandeville, said the victory “means a lot to the school community”.

“We have been trying to win this title for many years,” he noted. “The school is over 150 years old and this is one of the titles we have never won, so we have been after it. We came close on a couple occasions, but this time we actually pulled it off. It means a lot to the school community, so we have to give God thanks.

“This can now inspire others within the school to go on and achieve their goals. It shows that not because you did not achieve something the first or second time, you should give up. Just believe in yourself and keep on trying,” he said.

Gabriel also paid tribute to the sponsors, academic staff, the coaching staff and the supporters who contributed to “this historic feat”.

“Thank you very much,” he said.