Defending champions Scotiabank clipped Wisynco 1-0 to win the Kingston & St Andrew Business House one-day five-a-side football rally last Saturday at the NWC playing field, Mona.

This was their third-straight hold on the one-day rally trophy and their first on the new CargoNow trophy which is sponsored by the courier service company who replaced many time sponsors Seprod Limited this year.

Scotiabank defeated had BOJ 1-0 in the quarter-final in a bruising match, RJR/Gleaner Communications Group 1-0 in the semi-finals in extra time with MVP Kemar Cummings scoring in both games. Scotiabank did not lose a match during the competition or concede a goal as goalkeeper Damion Crooks kept a clean sheet with some excellent saves.

Wisynco were also undefeated coming in to the final, as they topped their zone in the preliminary round by clipping NMIA 3-2 in a closely contested match in the quarter-finals, and edging NWC 1-0 in the semi-finals.

Fourteen teams participated in this year’s renewal, including first-time entrants Hardware and Lumber and IBEX Global Jamaica. Other quarter-final winners were RJR/Gleaner Communications Group, who defeated Metrodade Protection and Security 2-1, and NMIA, who defeated Jamaica Customs 1-0.

The final was an evenly contested affair with goalkeepers Kelso Cousins of Wisynco preventing Kemar Flemmings, Donovan Hibbert, Jermaine Gardener, Kemar Cummings and Marlon Henry from scoring.

Scotiabank’s Damion Crooks was also impressive as Norman Bailey, Calbert Coke, Stephen Williams, Kirk Newman and the competition’s leading goalscorer, Xavion Virgo, just could not score on him.

Cummings scored his fourth goal for the day and the most important one when he robbed Norman Scott of the ball after he attempted to dribble out of his area and shot powerfully into the roof of the net past Cousins in the 15th minute.

Crooks and his teammates defended stoutly for the remainder of the match and tried to score on the counter- attack to hand Scotiabank the CargoNow trophy.

Coach Marcel “Fuzzy” Gayle was elated with his team’s performance, especially in the absence of his two main strikers — Nicholas Scott, who suffered a broken leg in the Magnum/KSAFA Super League and is out for the 2018 season, and the prolific Kevin Lamey, who is also injured but will return in June.

The Western Sports-sponsored league competition will kick off on Sunday with the dress parade and a double- header at St George’s College starting at 1:00 pm.