It might not be a Charles Dickens novel, but the Tale of Two Cities would fit well with the plight of the last two champions of the Red Stripe Premier League.

One team, Portmore United, in the heart of St Catherine and Harbour View, in the east of Kingston, are heading in two different directions.

While Harbour View have won four consecutive games and have surged to be joint top of the league with 20 points, Portmore United have won just once in 10 matches and are rooted to the bottom of the league with six points.

In fact, after the first three games, defending champions Harbour View had one point while 2012 champion Portmore United were pointless, but the Stars of the East kick-started their season, found another gear and have won six of their last seven games to be second only by the smallest of goal margins.

Portmore, on the other hand, have garnered only five more points to be on six, and are really struggling to fire up their season although they have time on their hands.

The Calvin Lewis-coached Portmore United will have great difficulty finishing their first round fixture on a winning note as they will be up against Waterhouse next Sunday. They have scored just four times from 10 games with two coming in a 2-3 loss to Arnett Gardens to underscore the main problem at the club.

Montego Bay United, who drew 0-0 with Humble Lions, remained on top with 20 points and are carrying the hopes of St James and by extension, Western Jamaica, to break the stranglehold of the urban teams.

Despite scoring just one goal more than Portmore United, Cavalier’s six-goal tally have seen them secure five wins. Following their 1-0 win over Rivoli United last Sunday, they have climbed into third spot with 16 points.

The less-heralded Cavalier are once again proving that they can mix it up with the big boys in this their second season back in top-flight football.

Tivoli Gardens turned in a clinker at home against Sporting Central Academy in a tame 0-0 draw and have slipped to fourth on 15 points, while Humble Lion currently round out the top five, also on 15 points.

Only five goals were scored over the weekend from five games of which Harbour View scored three times with three goalless draws.

The talented Harbour View striker Brian Brown followed up his hat-trick on Wednesday against Cavalier with another against August Town and has jumped to the top of the goal-scoring chart with six goals.

The former Rusea’s High hitman, who banged in 40-plus goals in the daCosta Cup a few seasons ago, seemed to have found his footing in “big man” football and is expected to carry the brunt of the attack for the champions.

Arnett Gardens’ Newton Sterling, Dino Williams of Montego Bay and Francois Swaby of Sporting Central are all on five goals apiece.