LAST year’s beaten finalists Charlie Smith High kicked off their 2015 Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/FLOW Manning Cup campaign on a high, whipping Penwood High 5-0 in their Group D encounter at the Cling Cling Oval yesterday.

Charlie Smith’s goals were scored by Zemario Sinclair (23rd and 31st minutes), Ronaldo Wright (47th minute) and Ronaldo McDonald (60th and 67th minute).

Charlie Smith jumped to the top of Group D with three points, but only on goal difference ahead of St Mary’s College, who edged St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) 1-0.

Holy Trinity High, who defeated St Mary’s College 1-0 on Saturday, also have three points along with STATHS, who defeated Penwood on Saturday.

Charlie Smith dominated the match from start to finish as they created numerous chances.

However, dividends paid off in the 23rd when Penwood’s Timothy Clunis failed to make a clearance, leaving Sinclair to tap home easily from the diving Pete Levy in goal.

With the hosts pinned back in their own half of the field, Charlie Smith pressed for more goals, and Johlani Bennett in an attempted clearance, missed the ball and left Sinclair to grab his and Charlie Smith’s second in the 30th minute.

Charlie Smith could have added another goal but Keyshawn Williams’ powerful free kick rattled the crossbar to end the first half on a high for the boys from Jungle.

Penwood’s defence didn’t improve in the second half as Wright breached it in the 47th minute and from point-blank range.

With accurate passing, McDonald went by two Penwood defenders and sent the ball wide from a diving Levy in the 60th minute before scoring a spectacular header in minute 67 to give Charlie Smith a 5-0 victory.

Penwood’s real chance at goal came on the hour mark when captain Romario Evens sent a powerful free kick just inches over Charlie Smith’s crossbar.

Meanwhile, Calabar High grabbed an early lead in Group A with four points after clipping St Catherine High 1-0, while Clan Carthy opened their account with a 2-1 victory over Tivoli Gardens.

In Group E, St Jago rebounded from their opening day loss to Wolmer’s Boys’ with a comfortable 3-0 win over Mona High. Former champions Bridgeport High got off the mark first time of asking with a 3-0 win over Kingston High, who were suffering their second consecutive defeat.

The Calvert Fitzgerald-coached Jose Marti High made it two-from-two after whipping Campion College 6-0 to be sole leaders in Group G with six points. Camperdown, who were beaten 1-2 by Kingston College on Saturday, rebounded with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Waterford High.