Frome among schools on cusp of daCosta Cup progression
AS many as seven more schools can book places in the second round of the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association daCosta Cup football competition that continues with mostly return-leg games today.
Twenty-one games are scheduled to be played, and both qualifiers from Zones B and C, as well as three other schools, could wrap up qualification. A number of other schools could take big steps towards the second round as well.
Former champions Frome Technical and Rusea’s High will advance from Zone B with wins today. The same goes for William Knibb Memorial and Cedric Titus from Zone C, while Holmwood Technical can advance from Zone G and Clarendon College from Zone H.
Defending champions Garvey Maceo can also advance from Zone N but will need help from the game between Foga Road and Kemps Hill High.
The Zone O game between Happy Grove and Titchfield High will be critical to the hopes of either team while Zone A, which has five of the six schools separated by six points, is on the proverbial knife’s edge.
Both Frome and Rusea’s are on 15 points, and repeat wins for them over Hopewell High and Green Island High, respectively, will be sufficient to seal places to the next round.
Frome have won all five games, including a 7-0 beating of Hopewell High in the first round, and should run out easy victors again. Rusea’s, who have played six games, are also expected to get the better of Green Island at home.
William Knibb and Cedric Titus will hope to extend their winning runs today against Muschett High and Herbert Morrison Technical, respectively.
William Knibb did just enough to beat Spot Valley High on Wednesday while shaking off the rust following a 10-day break. They should extend their winning run to five games after they beat Muschett High 8-0 in the first round.
Cedric Titus had beaten Herbert Morrison 3-0 in their first meeting but Herbert Morrison have won and drawn their last two games and must win today if they are to stay in contention.
A second win for leaders Holmwood Technical over second-place Mile Gully High would be enough for them to ease into the next round, and they could secure zone honours if Christiana High fail to beat Alphansus Davis High in their game.
Many-time former champions Clarendon College are seeking a sixth-straight win when they take on Lennon High and would win Zone H with two games still to be played.
Clarendon College, with 15 points, have seven more than second-place Edwin Allen High who play Thompson Town. Lennon are on seven points.
Garvey Maceo are seeking their fifth-straight victory after being held 2-2 by Kemps Hill in their opening game and will face a tough Vere Technical team. Vere are in second place and are also poised to advance.
On Friday, Central High and McGrath booked their places in the second round of the competition after both won their games, while York Castle High’s place was confirmed after Brown’s Town High and Oracabessa drew 1-1.
Central High edged Old Harbour High 3-2 to improve to 15 points while Glenmuir High, who beat Tacius Golding 7-0 for their fourth-straight win, are on the verge of progression as well.
McGrath High joined Dinthill Technical from Zone K after they beat Enid Bennett High 3-0 to go to 21 points, while Charlemont were held 1-1 by Ewarton High.
Dinthill wrapped up zone honours with a 1-0 win over Guy’s Hill, their ninth-straight win.
SATURDAY’S GAMES
Zone A
Anchovy vs Cornwall College @ Anchovy
Green Pond vs Irwin High @ Green Pond
Maldon vs St James @ Maldon High
Zone B
Hopewell vs Frome @ Ochard Sports Complex
Rusea’s vs Green Island @ Colin Miller Sports Complex
Zone C
Muschett vs William Knibb @ Muschett
Herbert Morrison vs Cedric Titus @ Herbert Morrison Technical
Zone D
Godfrey Stewart vs Petersfield @ Godfrey Stewart
Zone E
Munro vs Maggotty @ Munro College
STETHS vs Sydney Pagon @STETHS
Zone G
Alphansus Davis vs Christiana @ Alphansus Davis
Holmwood vs Mile Gully @ Holmwood Technical
Zone H
Lennon vs Clarendon College @ Toll Gate Community Centre
Edwin Allen vs Thompson Town @ Edwin Allen High
Zone I
Ocho Rios vs Marcus Garvey @ Drax Hall
Zone J
Wycliffe Martin vs St Mary High @ Wycliffe Martin
Annotto Bay vs Tacky @ Westmoreland Oval
Zone N
Foga Road vs Kemps Hill @ Foga Road
Garvey Maceo vs Vere Tech @ Garvey Maceo
Zone O
Fair Prospect vs Port Antonio @ Fair Prospect High
Happy Grove vs Titchfield @ Hector’s Riiver
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
Zone D
Black River 0, Grange Hill 0
Manning’s School 4, Belmont 0
Zone E
BB Coke 2, Lacovia 0
Zone F
Bellefield 1, Belair 2
May Day 1, deCarteret 4
Zone I
Oracabessa 1, Brown’s Town 1
Zone J
Horace Clarke vs St Mary Tech @ Horace Clarke — not played
Zone K
Ewarton 1, Charlemont 1
Enid Bennett 0 McGrath 3
Dinthill 1, Guy’s Hill 0
Zone M
Tacius Golding 0, Glenmuir 7
Central 3, Old Harbour 2