THE defending champions are safely through to the semi-finals of the ISSA Urban Under-14 and Under-16 football competitions as Kingston College and St Andrew Technical (STATHS) kept their bids alive for consecutive titles in the respective competitions.

Reigning Burger King Under-14 kingpins Kingston College claimed their second-straight win in the quarter-final group stage after beating Eltham 3-0 in Spanish Town in Group B. With Jamaica College also securing their second win after edging STATHS 1-0 at home, both teams have amassed an unassailable six points ahead of their showdown on North Street on Tuesday, which will determine who tops the group.

Wolmer’s are the other under-14 team to have booked their place in the semi-finals after helping themselves to another 3-0 victory — this time against Hillel Academy.

Hillel, however, remained in second place in Group A on three points, after Excelsior and Campion played out a 0-0 scoreline on Mountain View Avenue for their first point in the quarter-final stage.

Wolmer’s will be looking to maintain their 100 per cent record in the group when they welcome Excelsior on Tuesday while Hillel will be hoping to secure a positive result when they travel to Campion.

In the Mighty Malt Under-16 competition STATHS marched into the semis with a convincing 3-0 victory over Mona, on the road to again underline their credentials. St George’s College bounced back from their 0-2 defeat to Mona in the last match with a 6-0 hammering of Eltham, and will travel to STATHS on Tuesday knowing only a victory can give them an opportunity to join them in the last four, with Mona expected to get the better of Eltham in the group’s other match.

Kingston College got the better of home team Excelsior 4-2 and have one foot in the semi-finals ahead of Tuesday’s clash against Jamaica College in the final game in the group. Jamaica College lost their last match against Wolmer’s by a 1-2 margin.

As it stands, KC lead the group on six points — three more than Jamaica College (0 goal difference) and Wolmer’s (-1), with Excelsior out of contention at the bottom of the points standing without a point.

The semi-finals are set to take place on March 2 and 3 at a venue to be confirmed, with the final scheduled for March 12.