Key matches on in Manning Cup, weather permitting
Twelve games are scheduled today in the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/FLOW Manning Cup, but just like yesterday, the inclement weather could prove a deciding factor.
Rain wreaked havoc yesterday resulting in the postponement of all nine games.
George Forbes, ISSA’s competitions director, told the Jamaica Observer that any possibility of play will be left to the discretion of the referees for each game.
Several schools could book their spots in the second round of the competition today.
In Group A, Wolmer’s Boys’ and Tivoli Gardens High are on 19 and 18 points, respectively. They could book second-round spots with respective victories over out-of-contention Innswood High and Haile Selassie High (14 points) in the penultimate set of games in the group.
Defending champions Jamaica College (JC) are second in Group B with 16 points, and hope to overhaul leaders St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) — on 18 points — for top spot. JC host lowly Donald Quarrie, while STATHS welcome Mona to Bumper Hall on Spanish Town Road.
Third-placed Bridgeport High, on 13 points, tackle Papine High (four points). Bridgeport are looking to stay in touch and hope that the leaders slip up.
Title favourites Kingston College (KC) have already qualified for the next round, but they face a tricky Group E tie away to Excelsior High. KC, aiming to maintain their perfect record, are on 24 points, five more than Excelsior.
There is a real battle in Group G involving Calabar High, Charlie Smith High and, to a lesser extent, Eltham High. Calabar lead the group with 21 points, two ahead of Charlie Smith (19). Eltham are further back in third spot on 16 points, with two set of games remaining.
Eltham host Calabar knowing they must win, while Charlie Smith travel to Jonathan Grant where they cannot afford to slip up.
— Howard Walker
Today’s games
Group A
Kingston High vs Pembroke Hall
Tivoli Gardens vs Haile Selassie
Innswood High vs Wolmer’s Boys’
Group B
STATHS vs Mona
Jamaica College vs Donald Quarrie
Bridgeport vs Papine
Group E
Norman Manley vs Spanish Town
Greater Portmore vs Ardenne
Excelsior vs Kingston College
Group G
Campion vs Cedar Grove
Eltham vs Calabar
Jonathan Grant vs Charlie Smith
