PLENTY of attention will turn to Group H of the ISSA/LIME Manning Cup competition as the second round stage gets under way at the Constant Spring playing field today.

In the opening game starting at 1:00 pm, last season’s runners-up, Hydel High, face former winners Charlie Smith High, who have the edge in momentum heading into the clash.

At 3 o’ clock, fans will be treated to a clash between Jamaica College and Kingston College — two of the Corporate Area’s most successful schoolboy football teams.

Hydel, guided by veteran coach Geoffrey Maxwell, enjoyed a good string of results and topped Group A in the first round with a record of seven wins, one loss and two draws.

That form pushed them into the Walker Cup Knockout competition, but Tuesday’s 0-4 defeat at the hands of St George’s College — the team that beat them to the 2012 Manning Cup title — put a chastening end to their KO ambitions.

Against the backdrop of that disappointment, Hydel’s coaching staff is expected to motivate the players for today’s challenge against their buoyant opponents.

In the preliminaries, the Jerome Waite-conditioned Charlie Smith finished second to St George’s on goal difference in a tough-looking Group D, which also included Camperdown High.

That placing pushed the South St Andrew-based team into the Walker Cup, and though they were sometimes outplayed by Holy Trinity High in the quarter-final, they booked a last fourth spot with a workmanlike 2-1 victory.

In the feature Group H match, Jamaica College, coached by Miguel Coley, start as favourites against Kingston College, despite crashing out of the Cup KO in a 0-2 loss to Excelsior High a few days ago.

Before then, Jamaica College were imperiously hitting in goals for fun and boasted a perfect win record in 10 first round outings in Group E.

Kingston College have almost flown under the radar in getting to the second round after a runners-up finish to Spanish Town High in Group F.

Kingston College missed out on reaching the Walker Cup, but it also meant the Donavan Hayles-coached team could put all attention towards making a run at the Manning Cup, a crown the school has not lifted since 1986.

The competition continues tomorrow with a pair of matches in Group I at the Spanish Town Prison Oval. At 1:00 pm, Excelsior face Denham Town High, while at 3:00 pm, Ascot High meet Innswood High.