Impressive Excelsior in ISSA/FLOW Manning Cup second round kick-off

The Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)-FLOW Manning Cup second-round kicks off today with a double-header at the Constant Spring Complex.

In the first game, Excelsior High face-off against Jonathan Grant High at 1 p.m., to be followed by Holy Trinity High against Camperdown High at 3 p.m.

The four teams are drawn in Group H and the battle for the semi-finals begin, so they will look to get off to a winning start.

Excelsior High wear the favourites tag in the group as they have been impressive in all competitions this year.

Coming off a big 5-0 win against Ocho Rios High in the ISSA-FLOW Super Cup last Friday at Sabina Park, the Mountain View Avenue-based institution must be on a high for this game.

Excelsior also won their preliminary-round group ahead of many-time champions St George's College. With that kind of form, Jonathan Grant could be in for a torrid time.

WINNING START

Excelsior's coach Shavar Thomas has been guiding the team since summer and will look to players such as captain Christopher Thorpe, Cadine Graham, Thorne Buchanan, Ryan Spence and Raewin Senior for a winning start in the group today.

However, Jonathan Grant, after finishing second behind Haile Selassie High in Group D in the first round, will certainly come to stop Excelsior.

The Jonathan Grant team, which is coached by Oneil Thomas, who was a key striker for Excelsior when they won the Manning Cup in 1980, will look to key players Tahj Beckford, Jermaine Shorter, Delroy Grant and Issac Scott to create an upset.

In the feature game, Holy Trinity are favoured to get the better of Camperdown. Holy Trinity were eliminated from the FLOW Super Cup by St Elizabeth Technical High School last Saturday and will be looking to rebound.

Camperdown have not been impressive, despite finishing second in their preliminary-round group behind Wolmer's Boys', so they will have to work hard to get a positive result.

Today's games

Group H

Constant Spring Complex

1 p.m. - Excelsior High vs Jonathan Grant High

3 p.m. - Holy Trinity High vs Camperdown High