CHAMPIONS St George’s College (STGC) will continue their defence of the ISSA/Flow Walker Cup knockout title when they tackle St Jago High, after Jamaica College battle Wolmer’s Boys’ in the semi-finals at the Constant Spring field today.

JC and Wolmer’s will kick things off at 1:00 pm, while STGC and St Jago will be the day’s feature at 3:00 pm.

The North Street-based boys are currently in line for their 10th hold on the title, which was introduced as a Corporate Area knockout competition in 1961, but will first have to get past a very exuberant St Jago unit.

Last year’s winning performance placed St George’s on a pinnacle as the most successful school, with nine titles, and they are once again favoured to lift the crown this year.

The ‘Light Blues’ shrugged off two disappointing losses this season to Innswood High and Denham Town High in the Manning Cup first round, as they braved tough underfoot conditions to book a spot in the final four courtesy of a comprehensive 3-1 win over Excelsior High.

Gregory Messam Jr scored twice from the penalty spot in that encounter and is once again expected to play an instrumental role in St George’s push to retain their title. The lanky striker, who was a major factor in STGC’s 3-2 win last year against Jamaica College in the final, along with the wily Alex Marshall and Captain Shevon Stewart, will lead the firing line for the Neville Bell-coached team.

The likes of Hakeem Williams, Dominic James, Stephan Gilzene and Paul Young Jr are also expected to figure prominently in the midfield and defence.

The Glen Laing-coached St Jago have been riding high all season and have been touted in some circles as the ‘dark horse’ for all four titles this year.

The Monk Street-based team was enterprising and dominant in their 2-0 quarter-final win over Kingston College and will be optimistic of a repeat performance if they are to upset their more fancied rivals.

Striker Ryan Smart, Andrew Daley, Yonnica Elliott, Shaun-D Thompson and Shaqon Bryan will be carrying the hopes of victory for St Jago, who last won the Walker Cup in 2003.

Meanwhile, the first encounter will be an intriguing one between Manning Cup champions Jamaica College and a stout Wolmer’s Boys’ outfit. Both teams gave promising performances in their respective quarter-final encounters, but failed to separate themselves from their opponents.

They later weathered the dreaded penalty kicks to pull off an identical 5-4 result against Charlie Smith and Hydel, respectively. The Heroes’ Circle-based Wolmer’s have won the title on four occasions with their last hold coming back in 2013, while Jamaica College have won twice with back-to-back victories in 2009 and 2010.

The attacking prowess of both teams is expected to come to the fore in the press for a shot at the title and will be seeking to avoid the heart-rending penalty route.

Rojay Smith, Alphanso Gooden, Stuart Payne and Akiiki Jackson of Wolmer’s will lead the charge for the team, while Ronaldo Brown, Norman Campbell, Oquin Robinson, and the slippery Chevone Crooks are expected to retaliate for Jamaica College.