Keen battles as Manning Cup enters return-leg round
EIGHT games are on today as the return-leg round of the InterSecondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/LIME Manning Cup gets going with teams jockeying for favourable positions for group honours.
Charlie Smith, with 10 points from four games, have a three-point lead in Group B and they know a win today over bottom-placed Mona High will keep them in good stead as they hunt top spot in the group.
The Jerome Waite-coached boys dropped their first points on Friday after battling to a tame 0-0 draw with Vauxhall High. It was later revealed that several players reported sick and their new look aggregation failed to sparkle.
Whether or not they are back to full strength, Charlie Smith should prove too much for the visiting Mona High at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.
Second-placed Excelsior High, on seven points, host fourth-placed Cumberland High with four points knowing they can’t afford to slip-up in what could be an interesting battle for the second qualifying spot from Group B.
In Group C, leader Denham Town on 13 points hold a sizeable four-point advantage and are heavily fancied to secure yet another win over an Ardenne High unit they whipped 4-1 on September 8.
But it will be an intriguing battle for the second spot in the group with second-placed St Mary’s College on nine points travelling to third-placed Innswood High, also on nine points. Tivoli Gardens down in fifth with five points should improve their
chances of qualification when they play the pointless bottom-placed Edith Dalton James.
Meanwhile, high-riding and Group F leader Hydel High on 13 points have a difficult away game at a St Jago team in third spot on nine points. Hydel won their first encounter 1-0.
Calabar High, lying second with 10 points, should secure three easy points against the hapless Penwood High that have leaked in 35 goals in just five games. Calabar won their first match-up 5-0 and could improve on that seeing that Penwood are now a disheartened aggregation.
St Catherine High, in fourth spot with six points, should also pick up maximum points against an unusually poor Eltham High on four points after five games.
— Howard Walker
