Rusea’s, Titchfield cop ISSA age-group crowns
CLARENDON PARK, Clarendon — Rusea’s High and Titchfield High emerged as champions of the ISSA/WATA rural area Under-16 and Under-14 schoolboy football competitions after both sides rallied to score exciting victories in their respective finals on Friday.
Rusea’s outscored defending champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) 3-2 in the feature game at Juici Park, while Titchfield defeated Cornwall College 4-2 in the curtain-raiser.
The Portland-based Titchfield got their goals through Rajae Lawrence (29th and 50th), Raheem Bryan (14th) and Dane Golding (30th).
Daniel Meggo (12th) and Garnett Hudson (34th) scored Cornwall’s consolation goals.
“I want to dedicate this victory to our number 17 player, Tavar Kenley,” said the Titchfield coach, Renault Tomlinson. “He’s sick and couldn’t travel with us today.”
He added: “This is the second time in 13 games that we have gone behind; on both occasions it took us less than five minutes to equalise, so we weren’t worried. We have scored 62 goals and conceded 10 all season.
“The aim now is to try to keep this group, along with the Under-16s, together and build for the future.”
Meanwhile, Rusea’s needed goals from Leonardo Fogarty (35th), Daniel Reid (40th) and Jhevoy Diaz (77th) to dethrone U-16 holders STETHS, who were given a fourth-minute lead from the penalty spot by Demar James.
The Santa Cruz-based side, who got their other goal from Romeo Wright, also missed a chance to force extra-time after hitting the frame of the goal in the dying moments of regulation time.
Rusea’s coach Aaron Lawrence praised his team for a dogged performance.
“Even though it rained heavily, it was a good game,” he said. “The players did really well. They fought a good fight to the end. STETHS played well also, but we were more determined, so I must say congratulations to the guys and the entire coaching staff.”
Added Lawrence: “Most of these guys were a part of the daCosta Cup team, so now that they have won something they know how it feels. Hopefully we can carry this over into the next daCosta Cup season.”
