KC, St George’s clash headlines Manning Cup’s third round

NEWLY crowned Walker Cup champions Kingston College (KC) will put their perfect Manning Cup record on the line when they face North Street neighbours St George’s College in the feature match of Wednesday’s third set of games. The highly anticipated encounter is scheduled for a 4:15 pm kick-off at Stadium East, where the teams will meet in the second game of a double-header. Mona High and Hillel Academy will open the programme at 1:15 pm.

KC have made an impressive start to the second round, scoring 14 goals in two matches, brushing aside Penwood High 5-0 and Edith Dalton James High 9-0 to collect six points and lead Group Three. A win for KC would take them to the cusp of qualification to the quarter-finals, while a loss for St George’s College would severely hamper their already slim chances. KC will be bubbling with confidence as they defeated their neighbours 4-0 in the pre-season Roper Cup.

KC will once again be depending on top striker Deshawn Byfield, Captain Kamaul Patterson, Tajay Fletcher, and Shareef Ricketts, who are expected to lead from the front. But it will be interesting to see if Ryland Fray-Campbell gets any action after making the switch from the Light Blues to the Famed Purples. He was one of St George’s College’s better players last season.

St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) are also on six points in Group Three and should secure three more against a faltering Edith Dalton James team that is pointless. Tivoli and St George’s are on three points and the former could improve their position with a win over lowly Penwood High. In Group One, St Catherine High lead on six points, while Wolmer’s Boys’, Camperdown and Jose Marti are on three points each.

Jamaica College (JC), following a 0-0 draw with Campion College, have one point, although the school’s standings have been affected by the eligibility ruling involving national player Jamone Lyle. For many-time champions JC, they must beat Camperdown to keep their embattled season alive. A defeat for JC would be disastrous and could end their Manning Cup season.

Morale in the Dark Blue camp should be low after they were kicked out of the Walker Cup for using an ineligible player, as shown by their 0-0 draw with Campion College last week. They will have to lift themselves against Camperdown and should have enough quality to do just that and keep their season alive.