MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Hillstars will start as favourites against Georges Valley as semi-final action in the JB Rum/Captain’s Bakery Manchester Major League gets underway this evening with a double-header at the Kirkvine Sports Club.

In the other encounter, Porus will play Downs at 2:00 pm on Field A, with the Hillstars-Georges Valley clash set for a 3:00 kick-off on Field B.

The Spalding-based Hillstars ended the preliminary round as the top performing team in the competition, winning 10, drawing four and losing only one of their 15 matches to finish top of Zone Two with 34 points.

They will meet a Georges Valley side that placed second to Porus in Zone One on 24 points, having won seven, tied three and lost four in their 14 games.

In the other game, Porus are also favoured to advance to the final.

Both sides staged late rallies to qualify for the semi-finals, with Porus topping Zone One on 30 points, eight more than Downs who placed second in Zone Two.

Porus, who played one game less, also finished with a much better win percentage having won 10 times in 15 outings, while losing the other four. Downs were beaten five times, winning six and drawing four in 14 games.

— OT