Hydel High whipped Kingston High 7-0 at Breezy Castle yesterday and joined defending champion Jamaica College (JC), Wolmers’ Boys and Camperdown High, who all booked their places in the next round of the ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup.

Two goals apiece by Dane Grey (24th, 30th minutes) and substitute Jordane Cameron (69th, 89th) and further strikes by Deandre Walker (32nd), Fabiki Farqurharson (34th) and a 62nd penalty by Kemar Reid completed the rout.

It was Hydel’s sixth win from eight games and they moved to 19 points, the same as JC who will be in action today against Campion College and should regain sole leadership of the group.

With a number of schools on the verge of qualification to the second round, the Calabar High-Kingston College (KC) encounter will take the spotlight. The boys from Red Hills Road hinge their hopes of advancing in this must-win match against fierce rivals in one of 14 games today.

With KC sitting pretty on maximum 21 points in Group B and basically assured of a second round spot, Calabar are in third spot on 13 points, three adrift of Mona High on 16 points and who play away to lowly Clan Carthy.

Nothing but a win for Calabar will be good enough as they face an early elimination from the competition. KC defeated them 4-0 in their own backyard and the boys from Red Hills Road will be hoping to turn the tables at the Stadium East field.

Calabar would have to win and hope that Mona slip up against Clan Carthy and then KC in their final match to sneak in ahead of them. But if Calabar lose and Mona win, then that slim chance is gone.

Former champions St George’s College should also secure their second-round berth from Group A when they host Papine High at Winchester Park. The ‘Light Blues’ lead the group with 19 points from seven games, four ahead of St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) with 15 points and eight ahead of third-placed Cumberland High. STATHS travel to Cumberland today in a crucial game as they battle for second spot.

In Group D, leaders St Jago, on 19 points, and second-placed Denham Town, with 17 points, clash in a mammoth encounter. A win for St Jago would see them into the next round, while a win for Denham Town could see them qualify if third-placed Innswood High, on 10 points, fail to beat a fourth-placed Tivoli Gardens High on six points.

With a perfect six wins , St Catherine High put their unbeaten record on the line when they travel to Excelsior High looking to move a step closer to qualification. St Catherine are on 18 points with Excelsior in second spot on 15 points. Third-placed Haile Selassie are on 13 points, but have played a game more. They should secure three points against a weak Oberlin team and put pressure on Excelsior who they play next.

Today’s games

Group A

Cedar Grove High vs Tarrant High

Cumberland High vs STATHS

St George’s College vs Papine High

Group B

Kingston College vs Calabar High

Clan Carthy vs Mona High

Dunoon Technical vs Ardenne

Group D

Bridgeport High vs Greater Portmore

Denham Town vs St Jago

Tivoli Gardens vs Innswood

Group E

Oberlin vs Haile Selassie

Excelsior vs St Catherine

Penwood vs St Mary’s College

Group F

Campion College vs Jamaica College

Kingston Technical vs Vauxhall High