ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — Maggotty High have withdrawn from the Inter Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) Ben Francis Cup competition that is set to get underway on Thursday with the first round of games.

A release from ISSA on Monday confirmed that the St Elizabeth-based school will not be taking part in the knock-out competition after completing their schedule in the Round of 16 in the daCosta Cup competition last week.

Only two games will be played in the first round after Maldon High School’s earlier withdrawal after Hurricane Melissa disrupted their preparation for the restart of the competition.

Maggotty High, one of several schools in western Jamaica that were extensively damaged during the passage of the storm on October 28, had lost all three games in the Round of 16, losing 1-0 to Glenmuir High, 3-2 to Garvey Maceo and 5-0 to Clarendon College.

As a result of their withdrawal, Mannings School has earned a bye to the second round set to be played Tuesday, December 16.

Manchester High will host William Knibb Memorial in one game on Thursday while Ocho Rios High and Old Harbour will meet at Drax Hall in the other game the following day.

—    Paul Reid