Urban area champions Excelsior High and rural kingpins St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) will do battle for All-island supremacy in the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/First Global Under-14 cricket competition at Manchester High school today.

The 40-over per innings encounter is scheduled to begin at 10:00 am.

The all-round Excelsior outfit, led by Okhachie Brown, successfully defended their urban title with a seven-wicket win over Wolmer’s Boys.

The diminutive Brown, who played an instrumental role in his team’s victory last year, has been in good nick all season and contributed an unbeaten half-century while taking three wickets in the final.

Having reached this stage last year where they lost out to a formidable Clarendon College unit, Excelsior will now have another tough assignment on their hands. However, the Kirkland Bailey-coached team is well-rounded in both departments and with Brown’s top-notch form, they will be confident of turning the tables on their rural opponents.

Meanwhile, STETHS has been the most dominant schoolboy team over recent years. They may not have always shone brightly in this age-group tournament, but this year they found the right formula to hoist the title.

And with the senior team retaining all four titles from last year, it will be the much needed inspiration the young lads need to make it two from two by copping the all-island crown and further assert the school’s authority as the rulers of schoolboy cricket.

Sherdon Cowan