With redemption on their mind, Wolmer’s Boys’ Head Coach Jerome Waite says his team is eager to win the Walker Cup, ahead of their round-of-16 clash with St George’s College (STGC) today at Jamaica College’s Ashenheim Stadium, starting at 4:15 pm.

Wolmer’s were unable to get pass the round of 16 of the Manning Cup after failing to get by St Andrew Technical (STATHS), Kingston College and Hydel.

It’s the third season in a row where the Heroes’ Circle-based school have played in the knockout competition in its new format but will now face a tough task against the North Street-based STGC, who have won the most Walker Cup titles in history with nine.

While looking forward to the challenge, Waite says the preparation for the game hasn’t been ideal.

“The Walker Cup is another competition that you always look forward to once you don’t advance to the quarter-finals of the Manning Cup. We have our injuries still dealing with, we’re not sure if everybody will be available, but it’s a game where we have to go out and play our best,” he said.

Wolmer’s are five-time champions, with their last coming in 2015. In fact, prior to the format change in 2018, Wolmer’s won three titles in the span of four years. In 2022 and 2023, they made the semi-finals of the competition but were unable to get by Haile Selassie and STATHS, respectively.

STGC’s last urban title was in 2014 when they added a ninth Walker Cup to their trophy cabinet. Since then, they’ve only had the 2015 Champions Cup to celebrate. They were knocked out of the Manning Cup this season after defeats to Campion and reigning champions Mona in the round of 16.

Despite missing out on their main target of Manning Cup glory, Head Coach Neville “Bertis” Bell says he’s planning to take the match seriously.

“[Walker Cup] is a competition that we can win a title, and we want to. We are tied with the most Walker Cup titles. I certainly take it seriously and, hopefully, I can get the team to understand that we still have something to play for.”

Thursday’s Matches

Calabar vs St Jago at JC, 2:00 pm

STGC vs Wolmer’s at JC, 4:15 pm

STATHS vs Charlie Smith at Calabar, 3:00 pm

Eltham vs Jonathan Grant at Prison Oval, 3:00 pm