Calabar, George’s in group clash
ST George’s College (StGC) and Calabar will square-off today at 3:00 pm as both teams strive for Group H honours in the second round of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Gatorade/Digicel Manning Cup competition at the Constant Spring football field.
In the opening game of the double-header at the venue, Camperdown High and Penwood High — both out of contention — match skills at 1:00 pm.
St George’s and Calabar are on six points each, while Camperdown and Penwood sit at the base of the group without a point.
Only the top team from each of the four second-round groups will advance to the semis.
St George’s, winners in 2008 and 2009, are unbeaten this season and have breezed to respective 4-0 and 2-0 wins over Penwood and Camperdown in the second round.
The Light Blues are also already into the final of the Walker Cup Knock-out competition.
Calabar, who last won the Manning Cup in 2005, were just as dominant as today’s opponents in the first round, but were handed a shocking blow by the North Street-based team, going down 0-5 in the semi-final of the Walker Cup.
The Red Hills Road-based Calabar, guided by head coach Marvin Tate, recovered sufficiently, however, to record two wins from two matches in subsequent Manning Cup fixtures.
They clipped Camperdown, 2-1, and outclassed Penwood, 4-0, to set up the tantalising grudge match against St George’s.
Having the superior goal-difference, the Neville ‘Bertis’ Bell-conditioned St George’s team needs only to avoid defeat to progress, while the attacking-minded Calabar outfit is expected to come out swinging from the first whistle.