Three-time champions Camperdown High will square off against Holy Trinity High in the feature game of a Group H double-header when the second-round of the Inter-secondary Schools Sports’ Association (ISSA)/FLOW Manning Cup kicks off today at Constant Spring playing field.

The game is scheduled to get under way at 3:00 pm, while seven-time champions Excelsior High will go up against Jonathan Grant High in the early fixture set for 1:00 pm.

With very little separating both teams, the feature contest should be a keen encounter as both teams have displayed good attacking and defensive abilities. Camperdown, who were group F runners-up behind Wolmer’s Boys’, will be the fresher of the two and they will be brimming with confidence to open on a winning note. In nine first-round fixtures, Camperdown garnered 17 goals and conceded nine when winning six and losing twice — against the group winners — and drawing once.

However, Holy Trinity have proven that they are no fluke and can be dangerous against any opponents if allowed to settle into their flow. The Devon Anderson-coached team defied former champions Charlie Smith twice to top Group E with six wins, one loss and a draw in eight outings, while netting 15 times and conceding once.

Despite their recent 3-4 loss to daCosta Cup champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) in the FLOW Super Cup knockout competition, one can expect the South Camp Road-based team to bounce back, and if not threading on weary legs, they should cause some problems for their opponents.

Meanwhile, the curtain- raiser is also expected to spark some fireworks between the in-form Excelsior and last year’s semi-finalists Jonathan Grant. Like Camperdown in the feature, Group D runners-up Jonathan Grant will be well rested heading into the contest and they should prove a formidable foe.

Jonathan Grant have shown some relatively good attacking ability, which saw them netting 21 goals in seven wins, two draws and a loss in their 10 first-round outings with a mere six against, and they will be riding high in their quest for victory.

But the in-form Mountain View Avenue-based Excelsior are coming off a comfortable 5-0 win over Ocho Rios High in the knockout competition over the weekend, which will add impetus to their already free-running momentum.

The Shavar Thomas-coached team displayed its quality in the first round by denying many-time champions St George’s College twice to top Group A with 20 points, netting 24 goals with seven against.

Again, if not on tired legs, the likes of Raewin Senior, Thorne Buchanan, Ryan Spence and Kimani DeCombre, among others, should get the job done to ensure that their loss in the Walker Cup remains the only one in all competitions.

— Sherdon Cowan