AN abundance of intrigue surrounds the three-day ISSA/Grace Headley Cup final which will be contested between staunch parish rivals Munro College and St Elizabeth Technical High School starting tomorrow at Treasure Beach Sports Club.

It is ironic that challengers Munro, who last won the rural area Under-19 schoolboy title in 1974, are coached by Tedroy Bromfield, a former son of STETHS — the perennial Headley Cup winners and current title-holders.

After reaching their first semi-final since 2004, Munro College thrashed hosts Tacky High by 186 runs at Three Hills in St Mary to book their first final berth in 41 years.

Bromfield, who officially took over the head coaching job in 2011, said the achievement is no surprise to those familiar with Munro’s progression over recent years.

“People who have been following us would know there is a serious programme going on. People know we have a good team. Recently we won the all-island Under-14 competition,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

In the two previous rural area Under-16 competitions they reached the final, but lost to STETHS and Manchester High, respectively.

The coach argued that had it not been for “internal problems”, Munro would have reached the semi-final last year.

A standout top-order batsman for STETHS in the 1980s, Bromfield, who played youth cricket for Jamaica in 1986, said he has a “good bunch” of players at Munro.

“I’m elated to have this opportunity because I’m a lover of cricket. When I came to Munro I saw a lot of talent. This team has players who have represented the country at various youth levels. It’s a good bunch of guys and they are players who are doing well.

“I am happy we have reached here, and the old boys and the community and school environment have rallied around, and they now believe. I know that even if I leave here next week the cricket will be in good stead.”

He said the road to facing powerhouses STETHS in a Headley Cup final has not been easy.

“A senior teacher [at Munro College] asked me to come help when I returned to Jamaica in 2010. The former principal Albert Corcho, who is now at Calabar High, he had the programme when he was here, and I was officially the coach in 2011.

“I saw what was happening at Munro and I wanted to volunteer my service at the time. Over the last two years it was very difficult because I think some people didn’t believe we could achieve. It is a surprise to some, apart from a few male teachers who believed,” Bromfield said.

Being a St Elizabeth Technical old boy in charge of the cricket team of main rivals Munro comes with certain challenges. Bromfield chuckled when explaining the circumstances, but said he has received helpful tips from STETHS coach Clive Ledgister, whom he regards as a good friend.

“In this environment I get a whole heap of stick, but I also got a lot of help from Clive Ledgister when I just started. We are close and he gave me a lot of advice because I wasn’t used to schoolboy cricket since I was away [overseas] for a while,” said Bromfield, who coaches St Elizabeth CA and is also in charge of the parish’s Kingston Wharves youth cricket team.