CLARENDON PARK, CLARENDON — Senior League holders Holmwood Technical cruised past Group Four rivals Charlemont High, 55-12, as second-round action in the ISSA/Digicel Rural Area schoolgirl netball competitions tipped off yesterday.

The Manchester-based school was superior in every area and, at times, seemed to be playing against the clock.

They led 13-2 at the end of the first quarter and 28-7 at the halfway point, before pulling away for an easy win at a rainy Clarendon Park in south-west Clarendon.

“Whenever you are playing against a weak opponent you can’t afford to slack up. You have to try and maintain a certain standard,” said Carlene Graham-Powell, the Holmwood Technical coach, in her post-game interview.

“If you become complacent against the weaker teams,” she added, “you will have issues later on in the competition when you meet the stronger teams”.

Also in Group Four, Titchfield High triumphed 43-19 over Clarendon College at the Queen’s School.

Over at the Montego Bay Cricket Club in St James, Bishop Gibson emerged the day’s biggest winners in Group One following a 33-19 victory over Anchovy High. In that same group, Manning’s and Hampton scored respective (24-22 and 21-19) nail-biting victories over Albert Town and William Knibb.

In Group Two, Manchester High made light work of Muschett, beating them by 41 goals (50-9) at STETHS, while STETHS stopped Mount Alvernia, 37-19. In the group’s other game, Frome Technical were awarded the points against Ocho Rios.

Playing at the GC Foster College in Spanish Town, Clarendon schools Denbigh and Edwin Allen scored routine victories in Group Three. Denbigh thrashed St Mary High 56-8, while Edwin Allen brushed aside Yallahs High 42-8.

Old Harbour High, who overcame Knox College 39-29 at Clarendon Park, were the other Group Three winners, while Glenmuir got past Marymount High 27-25.

Meanwhile, in Junior League action, champions STETHS proved too much for Mount Alvernia, beating their St James opponents 41-3 at Belmont Academy in Westmoreland.

May Day High from Manchester were, however, the day’s biggest winners, hammering Montego Bay High by some 51 goals (56-5). Frome also ticked off a win in Group Two with a 17-8 victory over St Hilda’s.

Other winners on the day were Holmwood, who beat Tacius Golding 44-14; Manchester High defeated Anchovy High 31-8; Yallahs beat Edwin Allen High 22-17; Herbert Morrison got past Lacovia High 20-13; St Mary High and Glenmuir High played to a 24-24 draw; Petersfield High gained a walkover against Ocho Rios High who did not turn up with their identification cards; Denbigh romped to a 42-8 win over Oracabessa High; and Titchfield won 33-13 over Claude McKay .