Clarendon College begin Ben Francis Cup defence

CLARENDON College will start their defence of the ISSA Ben Francis Cup football title when they host May Day High in the second round of the competition this afternoon. Clarendon College and Munro College drew byes in the first round last weekend, and both will be seeking a spot in Wednesday’s Round of 16. Many-time champions Cornwall College and Glenmuir High, as well as McGrath High and Kemps Hill High, who all had double-digit wins last week, are also hoping to make progress. Clarendon College are to face a May Day High team that defeated Alphansus Davis High on penalties in the first round. However, May Day have won just one of their five daCosta Cup games this season. The Munro College versus Frome Technical game has the potential to provide the best contest of the round, with the two teams playing at a high level. Munro have been sailing in Zone D of the daCosta Cup, scoring 33 goals in their five wins. But they could face their toughest opponents in Frome who lead Zone B on the heels of a comeback 4-2 victory over major rivals Rusea’s High. Frome also knocked out the impressive Brown’s Town in the first round of the Ben Francis Cup. Izion Frazer and Kajaye Williams have led Munro’s attack and are expected to again carry the bulk of that workload. Playing at home, Frome will look to Wayne Mullings, Jovaunnie Whyte and Antwayne Campbell as their difference makers. The Old Harbour High versus Rusea’s High match, a battle between two former champions, could also be a good contest. Old Harbour are coming off a 2-1 win over Lewisville High while Rusea’s eliminated Spot Valley High with a 6-0 victory. Seven-time champions and last season’s finalists Cornwall scored the largest margin of victory in the first round, getting by minnows Troy High 20-0, but should find Knox College a tougher opponent. Knox hammered Green Island High 6-0 in their first-round game and sit atop Zone F of the daCosta Cup from which they are expected to qualify for the second round. National junior representative Carlondo Morris scored six times for Cornwall College and had scored a hat-trick in the first half, along with Shakeem Gibson. Glenmuir put 16 goals past a hapless Muschett High last weekend. They are to face Knockalva Technical in May Pen and will start favourites. McGrath High, semi-finalists last year and victors over Horace Clarke High in the first round, are set to take on Central High who had got by Vere Technical on penalties. Central High are unbeaten in the daCosta Cup and lead Zone G after beating previous leaders Denbigh High on Wednesday. Central High will be full of confidence for this game. The Kemps Hill High versus Cedric Titus High clash is not expected to reproduce the goal fest seen in their daCosta Cup Round of 32 meeting last season. On that occasion the Clarendon-based school won 6-4. Cedric Titus, based in Trelawny, have recovered from a slow start to the season and are unbeaten in their last three games. They edged out Cambridge High 1-0 in their first-round, Ben Francis Cup game. Kemps Hill, led by Shemar Daley and Ricardo Dean who combined for seven goals in their 11-0 win over Cross Keys High, will start favourites. St Elizabeth Technical, who had to dig deep to get the better of Charlemont High, will face Denbigh High. The Denbigh team defeated Yallahs High in the first round of the Ben Francis Cup. Ocho Rios High, who beat Little London 9-0 in their first round game, will be confident against Morant Bay High who were taken to penalties by St James High at home.

Dinthill Technical are to oppose a Herbert Morrison team that is playing in the Ben Francis Cup for the first time in almost two decades. Dinthill beat deCarteret College 8-0 in their first-round game while Herbert Morrison got the better of Petersfield High 3-2 on penalties, after they had played out a 0-0 regulation scoreline. SATURDAY’S GAMES STETHS vs Denbigh @ STETHS (4:00 pm) Kemps Hill vs Cedric Titus @ Wembley Centre Clarendon vs May Day @ Clarendon College Christiana vs Lacovia @ Holmwood Garvey Maceo vs Paul Bogle @ Garvey Maceo Manchester vs Titchfield @ Manchester High Maggotty vs Porus @ Appleton Estate Old Harbour vs Rusea’s @ Linval Dixon Oval Frome vs Munro @ Frome Bellefield vs Irwin @ Bellefield Manning’s vs Edwin Allen @ Manning’s Ocho Rios vs Morant Bay @ Drax Hall McGrath vs Central @ McGrath Cornwall vs Knox @ Cornwall Dinthill vs Herbert Morrison @ Dinthill Glenmuir vs Knockalva @ Glenmuir   (Games to start 3:00 pm unless otherwise stated.)