Play-off teams hope to advance in d’Cup
Former champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) and Dinthill Technical are among five schools that could secure places to the second round of the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association/Wata daCosta Cup football competition on Monday.
Cedric Titus High and Ocho Rios High from Zone C; STETHS from Zone E; and Tacky High from Zone I are all playing in mini play-offs in their respective zones and a win in their rescheduled games would see them advance.
The games were originally set to be played on Saturday but were interrupted by heavy rain and lightning. They will continue from where they left off.
Dinthill, who are still perfect through five games, can secure their place with a draw in their contest against Charlemont High.
Also on Monday, the contenders in Zone G are expected to emerge as the first round of the competition draws to a close with all six teams in action.
All three games in the play-offs were tied in the first half when they were called off on Saturday.
Cedric Titus High and William Knibb were locked at 0-0 late in the first half of their game when it was suspended.
William Knibb just got into the play-offs and are the fourth-ranked team. They were docked three points from their win against Cedric Titus in their prior contest after they were found to have used an ineligible player.
William Knibb will be hoping to prove that, that result on the field was not a fluke as they seek to improve their chances of taking one of the three automatic qualifying spots from Zone C.
Cedric Titus are on 19 points and a win today would see them into the next round, and if Ocho Rios beat Brown’s Town, they too will take their place in the second round. The first game between Ocho Rios and Brown’s Town had ended 1-1.
STETHS had come from behind to tie up the scores at 1-1 against Lacovia High when their game was called off. If they are able to go on and claim the win, they would be the first team to advance from Zone D. STETHS had won the first game 2-0.
Tacky High (17 points) lead Zone I and if they manage a win today, they could be on their way to the second round.
Tacky are three points ahead of Wycliffe Martin High, with Horace Clarke High and St Mary High both on 13 points.
Two-time former winners Dinthill Technical beat Charlemont High 7-0 on Saturday and are expected to take another three points today and run their record to six-straight games.
Charlemont High was a “best third-place” team last season but are in danger of falling out of contention if they lose their fourth game of the season this afternoon.
Three points separate the top three teams in Zone G. The joint leaders, Mile Gully and Christiana High, who are both on 15 points, are to clash this afternoon. Christiana will hope to avenge the 1-2 loss they suffered in the first meeting.
Mile Gully have played just six games, two fewer than Christiana.
Third-placed Bellefield High hope to stay in contention with a second win this season over last-placed Alphansus Davis High, while Holmwood Technical and Knox College, both on 10 points, will also meet.
Cornwall College and Irwin High from Zone A; Frome Technical and Rusea’s High from Zone B; Morant Bay High and Paul Bogle High from Zone K; Garvey Maceo High from Zone M; and Happy Grove High from Zone N are the eight teams that have already secured their places in the second round.
— Paul A Reid
MONDAY’S GAMES
Maldon vs Spot Valley — 1:30 pm
Cedric Titus vs William Knibb — 2:00 pm
Ocho Rios vs Brown’s Town @ Addison Park — 2:00 pm
Tacky vs St Mary High — 2:00 pm
Wycliffe Martin vs Horace Clarke — 2:00pm
Charlemont vs Dinthill — 1:30 pm
STETHS vs Lacovia — 3:00 pm
Mile Gully vs Christiana @ Mile Gully Centre — 3:00 pm
Knox vs Holmwood — 3:00 pm
Bellefield vs Alphansus Davis — 3:00 pm