STATHS, Wolmer’s, JC seek redemption

AFTER A disappointing end to both their Manning Cup campaigns, Wolmer’s Boys’ School and St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) are both aiming for some consolation, beginning with an attempt to get by each other in today’s Walker Cup semi-finals at Stadium East, beginning at 3 p.m.

In the other semi-final, Excelsior take on Jamaica College at 5:30 p.m.

Wolmer’s, who won three of their five Walker Cups between 2012 and 2015, see this as a last opportunity to salvage some silverware from the season, said coach Jerome Waite.

“This is the last opportunity to move into a final, and the Walker Cup is a good cup to finish on a high with. But you will have to clear the barriers before you think about the final,” he said.

“But the fact that we are in the last four speaks volumes. One of the things is how I have applied the players’ preparation and they have responded.”

To get into the final, the Heroes Circle school will have to get by STATHS, the team that was favoured to lift the Manning Cup, and Waite knows that making his first final with Wolmer’s will be no easy task.

“It will be a tough game. That team has been doing extremely well. I look at it as one of those unfortunate things for them not to be in the semi-finals of the Manning Cup.

“They have quality players, and they have been playing together for a long while, so we are looking forward to a tough game. But we will only have one shot at it, and preparations have been steady, and the players are looking forward to this game. The fact that we are in the semi-finals means we are challenging to reach the final despite the quality of St Andrew Technical.” he said.

The Philip Williams-coached STATHS looked imperious at the start of the competition, however, they stumbled at the quarterfinal stage and were left licking their wounds.

The last few seasons have ended in disappointment for the Bumper Hall school, who have lost three finals to Jamaica College between 2017 and 2022.

Nevertheless, this will be a great opportunity for the Spanish Town Road school to break its 36-year trophy drought.