Former champions Cornwall College and Clarendon College will start their quest for the ISSA Ben Francis Cup title today when the competition gets underway with four first-round games.

Record seven-time holders Cornwall College will play Happy Grove at Drax Hall; Clarendon College, with four titles, will face Kemps Hill High at Foga Road High; Dinthill Technical and Manchester High meet at Glenmuir High, while Denbigh High and Alphansus Davis High meet at Brooks Park.

The teams in the first round had failed to make it past the round of 16 in the daCosta Cup competition and today’s winners will be joined in the quarter-finals by the four teams that fail to get into the semi-finals.

On paper, the all-Clarendon derby between Kemps Hill and Clarendon College could be the most competitive between two teams that would be familiar with each other.

Kemps Hill would go into the game with the better record as despite finishing third in their first-round group, they won their round of 32 group and were third in their round of 16 group.

Clarendon College, on the other hand, were second in their round of 32 group and last in their round of 16, losing to Cornwall College in their last game in the previous round when they needed a win to stay in contention and finished with one point.

Generally, any game between Dinthill Technical against Manchester High would be highly anticipated but neither team has been dominant this season and will have a chance to redeem themselves.

Cornwall College will hope their win over Clarendon College in the most recent game will motivate them as they seek their first hold on the Ben Francis Cup since 2003.

Thursday’s Matches

Kemps Hill High vs Clarendon College at Foga Road High

Dinthill Technical vs Manchester High at Glenmuir High

Cornwall College vs Happy Grove at Drax Hall

Denbigh High vs Alphansus Davis at Brooks Park

* All matches are scheduled to start at 3:00 pm