Clarendon, St James in big daCosta Cup clash

Western Bureau:

An intriguing top of the zone matchup between 2015 champions Clarendon College and St James High at Manchester High will headline an interesting weekend of matches across all four groups in the quarter-final round of the 2017 ISSA/FLOW daCosta Cup this afternoon.

St James High are faced with a must-win situation if they are to get to the semi-finals as they are locked on six points in Zone 1 with Clarendon College, who will advance with a draw as they lead on goal difference.

Coach Theodore Whitmore of St James told The Gleaner after Wednesday's game that he expects today's match to be very interesting.

Technical director of Clarendon College, Lenworth Hyde, said his team is determined to come out today with the right attitude in order to get a positive result over a well-coached St James High.

"We are looking forward to the game," he said. "St James are a quality team with a quality coach in Whitmore so we expecting a good game. We just have to continue playing with a nice tempo and if we can continue that trend and be disciplined on the field we can get a good result," added Hyde.

The STETHS Sports Complex will host another top clash at 3 p.m. with last year's beaten finalists St Elizabeth Technical going up against dark horses Holmwood Technical in Zone 3. The latter are in the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time in 14 years.

Holmwood (six points) are undefeated but must win today to advance to the semi-finals. STETHS also have six points and a superior goal difference. Coach Sheldon Davis of Holmwood said yesterday that they are going to put their best foot forward and play with the same desire and game plan that has been working for them so far.

"STETHS can afford to draw but we need to win, so I'm going out there with the same game plan of the other games. So far it has been working for us, so I expect nothing less tomorrow," said Davis.