DENBIGH High, Holmwood Technical, and Manchester High have recorded convincing victories as the 206 Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) Rural high schools Junior and Senior Leagues continue.

The Janice Hancel-Walker-coached Denbigh, who are the defending All-Island Junior League champions, said there is not much challenge in Zone D for both the juniors and seniors.

“In the senior section there are only two schools — Glenmuir High and Denbigh High competing against each other twice. We have won the first match easily 49-26 and are expected to meet again in 11 days from now. We will run out of match preparations for the second round,” Hancel-Walker explained. She was quick to point out, however, that there are weak areas the team needed to address.

“The teams I think will be the most challenging to play against are Holmwood, Knox College and Manchester High. These teams are by far the best in the competition, but I won’t be taking any team for granted.”

Meanwhile, Carline Graham-Powell, coach of Holmwood, the defending All-Island Senior League champions, said not much challenge is coming for her in Zone E. “It’s quite an easy zone, as many of the schools do not have a senior team.

“I will be very much short of playing matches. I will need to get the girls practising against club teams from the parish of Clarendon so as to get them well prepared for the second round,” Graham-Powell added.

“The only time you will have to battle and fight hard to win is definitely in the semi-finals, but other than that the competitiveness is not there, until we face stronger teams such as Holmwood and Manchester,” Graham-Powell said.

She said last year Titchfield High had a good team, but she has not seen them yet in action this season. “I don’t know how they look this season. The only teams should give us any worthwhile competition are Denbigh and Manchester High,” said a confident Graham-Powell, who said she will be taking each game one at a time and no rush to win.

Simone Smith is the coach of former champions Manchester High and her team has won all their matches mainly in the Junior League.

In that division, Denbigh beat Garvey Maceo High 46-1; Bustamante High 42-10; Glenmuir High 28-12; Garvey Maceo 55-3; Bustamante 36-9.

Holmwood Technical have beaten Mile Gully High 22-11; Christiana High 36-4; Bellefield High 56-4; Christiana 58-2; Mile Gully 24-7

Manchester have beaten Cross Keys High 28-4; Belair High 27-6; May Day High 26-22.

Meanwhile, in the senior league, Denbigh beat Glenmuir High 29-26; Holmwood defeated Bellefield 78-2; Christiana 81-0; Christiana 76-3. Manchester High defeated Cross Keys High 53-4.

— Gerald Reid