Action heats up in daCosta Cup second round

The second round of the ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup continues today with 16 matches including four double headers.

Defending champions Clarendon College face a do or die clash when they play Paul Bogle High at 3:30 p.m. at York Oval in Group 2 action. Following their 3-0 win in their opening match on Wednesday over Titchfield High, Paul Bogle are in pole position on goal difference in the group with three points. Glenmuir are second, also with three points, following their 2-0 win over Clarendon College on Thursday.

The Lenworth Hyde-coached Clarendon will go into this encounter knowing that they need three points as any other result could find them in danger of not coming out of the group where the top two will advance. Hyde will be relying on the likes of Deandre Gallimore, Keanu Jennings, Donte Walters and Nahshon Bolt to take them over the line today.

After pulling off a win over the defending champions, Glenmuir will be involved in a double header at Carder Park in Port Antonio. They will face Titchfield High at 4 p.m. after a 2 p.m. curtain-raiser between Group 5 leaders Happy Grove High and joint second place Denbigh High.

There are also two very interesting games in the western end of the island. Many-time champions Rusea’s High will host Cornwall College in Group 1 at the Collin Miller Sports Complex in Lucea while in Group 3 St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) will face Manchester High at STETHS Sports Complex in Santa Cruz.

Having drawn their game against Kemps Hill High on Wednesday, Cornwall will be seeking their first win in the competition’s second round. Rusea’s, on the other hand, will be seeking a second win after clipping Spot Valley High 1-0 on Thursday.

The players to watch today are Cornwall’s Carlondo Morris and Rusea’s Demar Sailsman. Morris, 14, is Cornwall’s top-scorer with seven goals while Sailsman is Rusea’s leading marksman with nine goals.

Over in Santa Cruz, Omar ‘Rambo’ Wedderburn, coach of STETHS, says his players are finding their best form at the right time.

“It is better late than never,” Wedderburn said. “Manchester are a very good team and they are looking to collect three points and so are STETHS.”

Newly installed coach of Manchester High, Rudolph ‘Najee’ Stennett, said he needs 150 per cent effort from his young team.

“STETHS are a household name and they are a very good team. I don’t want the magnitude of the game to get to them, so the aim is to be fully focused. I expect the older players to guide the younger ones today and that is the approach. Once these kids do their best and have no regrets on the field, I am quite okay,” Stennett said.

Today’s matches

2 p.m:. Christiana High vs St Mary High - Brooks Park

4 p.m: Holmwood Technical vs Belair - Brooks Park

2 p.m: Happy Grove vs Denbigh - Carder Park

4 p.m : Titchfield vs Glenmuir - Carder Park

3:30 p.m: Port Antonio vs Yallahs- CASE

3:30 p.m: Rusea’s vs Cornwall College - Colin Miller Sports Complex

2 p.m: Ocho Rios vs Cedric Titus - Drax Hall

4 pm: Brown’s Town vs Munro - Drax Hall

3:30 p.m: Dinthill vs Central -Dinthill

2 p.m: Black River vs Frome - STETHS

4 p.m: STETHS vs Manchester High - STETHS

3:30 p.m: Maldon vs Alphansus Davis - Jarrett Park

2 p.m: Spot Valley vs Kemps Hill - Trelawny Multi Sports Complex

4 p.m: William Knibb vs Mannings - Trelawny Sports Complex

3:30 p.m: Paul Bogle vs Clarendon College - York Oval