CATHERINE HALL, St James — Defending champions Cornwall College extended their perfect start to the ISSA/FLOW daCosta Cup schoolboys’ football competition after beating arch-rivals St James High 2-1 in their Zone A game played at the Montego Bay Sports Complex yesterday.

The win extended their run to 21 games dating back to last season, while snapping St James’ two-game winning start in the process.

Eight other schools, including Clarendon College and Dinthill Technical, also ran their records to three straight, joining Glenmuir High in the 40-game schedule that was affected by rain with a number of games being blown off prematurely.

Manchester High, Spot Valley High, Ocho Rios High, St Mary Technical, Oracabessa High and Seaforth High all kept their records perfect, while several high-profile teams had their perfect win records tarnished, including St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), Rusea’s High, Bog Walk High and Mile Gully.

In a game that was played almost entirely in a steady rain, Cornwall College stretched their unbeaten run in Zone A to 27 straight games dating back to the 2013 season as they ended St James High’s good start.

Pagiel Brown headed Cornwall College into the lead in the third minute when his strike from a right- side cross beat goalkeeper Aian Miller to his left as they conceded a goal for the first time this season.

Michael Heaven doubled the lead midway the second half before Calwayne Allen pulled one back for St James late when he converted from the penalty spot.

After being held goalless in the first half, Clarendon College exploded for five in the second half against Lennon High with Lamar Walker scoring a brace to take his tally to seven goals.

Demario Phillips, Shandy James and Kevin Ankle also scored for Clarendon College, as they swamped the Ben Francis KO champions who beat them 2-0 in their most recent meeting.

Kaheem Parris scored a hat-trick to lead Dinthill Technical to a 5-1 win over Guy’s Hill and took over sole leadership of Zone J after Bog Walk were held 2-2 by Ewarton High.

Despite going a man down in the ninth minute when Nicolloyd Dinham was sent off, Manchester High maintained their dominance over Mile Gully with a 2-0 win with goals from Brandon Brown and Okeem Powell, as they also took over sole leadership in Zone F.

Former champions Rusea’s High and STETHS, who had won their first two games, were held to 0-0 draws by Green Island High and Munro College, respectively.

In Zone B, Frome Technical rebounded from their loss to Green Island in mid-week to beat Knockalva Technical 5-1 at Frome as Shamir James and Andre Cunningham both got braces.

Maldon High scored their first win in the competition since the 2013 season, while missing two seasons, beating Green Pond High 2-0 at Green Pond.

Manning’s School won for the first time this season after two draws, beating Grange Hill 3-1 in Zone D, as leaders Petersfield High blanked Black River High 4-0, while Little London edged Godfrey Stewart High 1-0.