After a less than auspicious first round in the ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup, defending champions Clarendon College are finally rounding into shape, according to Head Coach Lenworth Hyde and striker Roderick Granville.

A 5-0 thrashing of number 32-ranked Green Pond High in their return-leg game on Saturday gave them an 8-1 aggregate win to advance past the second round of the competition.

Playing in the second game of a double-header at Juici Football Field on Saturday, Clarendon College cruised to victory as Granville led the team with a brace.

Hyde beamed about the performance after the game.

“I loved the performance today [Saturday], and the most important thing, we are scoring goals. We haven’t been scoring [many] in the first round, but we are getting goals now and this is a good momentum going into the next round. It’s very important so it can propel us forward,” he said.

The standout former schoolboy footballer knows just how difficult it is to defend the title, but is hopeful that his boys have now found their footing on the way to doing just that.

“Any time you are defending your title it’s always tough, and we are looking forward to the challenge. We are willing to work hard out there and as you can see, we are putting in the shifts.

“Now they are working hard; we are trying to maintain the discipline in the group. We have talented players, they understand how to play the system and they are enjoying themselves out there, so I just hope that can carry them to the finals,” he said.

Granville explained that it has been a tough season for his team.

“I am grateful for the goals because we have been working hard right throughout the season. It was a difficult season for us at the start.”

He believes the wins over Green Pond will provide the impetus for them going forward.

“This game is the game that will help us to move forward into the quarter-finals. I am glad we won 5-0 and most importantly, we finally had a clean sheet.”

The striker who now has three goals this season echoed his coach’s sentiments about discipline.

“I think we need to focus a little bit more — be disciplined, that’s the most important thing — both on and off the pitch, and I think we will have a great chance of defending our title.”

Clarendon College will begin the crucial quarter-final round with a game against Manning’s School at Frome Complex tomorrow, starting at 1:00 pm. The other two teams in that group are Anchovy High and Cedric Titus High. They will meet today at Jarrett Park at 3:00 pm.