St Mary High qualifies for second round of daCosta Cup

St Mary High qualified for the second round of the ISSA daCosta Cup football competition with a 7-1 win over Horace Clarke High in their Zone I game at the Highgate Community Centre on Tuesday. The win was St Mary High’s fourth-straight and guarantees them at least second place in the zone. Titchfield High, who have also won their first three games, will seek to book their place on Wednesday. Tyrique Barnes led the way with a hat-trick to take his tally for the season to six as St Mary High moved to 12 points, three more than Titchfield High. The result also made up for St Mary High missing out on qualification last season. Frome Technical High and Munro College, who are on course to clash in the second round of the Ben Francis Cup on Saturday, also scored impressive wins to move closer to qualification for the second round of the daCosta Cup. Wayne Mullings scored a first-half double as Frome Technical outclassed Little London 4-2 in their Zone B game to move to 13 points and extend their lead over Rusea’s High to four points. Jovaunnie Whyte headed Frome Technical into the lead in the 24th minute before Mullings scored in the 30th and 38th minutes. Raheem Dennison added a fourth in the 47th minute. Little London rallied briefly in the second half after Frome Technical made multiple changes, with Jaheem Clarke scoring a brace in the 64th and 77th minutes to halve the deficit. Green Island moved into third place in Zone B after a 10-0 win over Grange Hill High, while the game between Petersfield High and Knockalva Technical was not played. Munro College took over sole leadership in Zone D after a 5-0 win over Black River High, their fifth straight victory, to move to 15 points and within touching distance of the second round. Porus High and Lennon High moved into top position in their respective zones after wins over Vere Technical High and Charlemont High, respectively. Porus High edged Vere Technical High 1-0 to improve to eight points in Zone E, while Lennon High got by Charlemont High 4-1 in Zone G to move to seven points. On Wednesday, Titchfield High and Knox College can join the early qualifiers. A point for Titchfield High against Iona High at Rio Nuevo will be enough to see them into the second round along with St Mary High. Zone F leaders Knox College need to beat Alphansus Davis High and hope Holmwood Technical do not beat Troy High. Unbeaten Irwin High and St James High will move closer to a place in the next round from Zone A if they beat Herbert Morrison Technical and Spot Valley High, respectively. Both have won their first three games and are tied on nine points at the top of the zone. Joint Zone G leaders Denbigh High and Central High, tied on seven points and separated by goal difference, will meet in a game that could help decide the zone winner.