By Paul A. Reid, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
AS MANY as six places in the quarter-final round of the ISSA Pepsi/Sports Plus daCosta Cup schoolboys football competition and places in the first round of the Ben Francis Knockout will be up for grabs today in the third and final round of inter-zone play.
Four schools, led by defending champions Rusea's High, former winners Dinthill Technical, Frome Technical and Titchfield High, have won both inter-zone matches played so far and will be hoping to maintain their form and secure an automatic berth into the next round.
The final eight will not be known until Monday after the playing of four rescheduled games including two that were blown of early on Thursday.
The six zone winners plus the best two runners-up will advance.
Eleven of the 24 teams in the inter-zone are in with realistic chances of taking one of the eight places in the quarter-finals but Frome Technical, who lead Group Two, and Dinthill Technical, who lead Group Six both with a perfect six points, will have the easiest possibilities, needing only draws to secure their places.
Frome, under the guidance of Boysie Nicholson, have scored eight goals so far in their two inter-zone games and will be brimming with confidence today.
Last season's beaten finalists, William Knibb, have a shot at the next round but must beat red-hot Frome Technical in the first game of a Jarrett Park doubleheader.
The Paul 'Tegat' Davis-coached team dropped two valuable points in their drawn game against Brown's Town last week and, despite beating Petersfield 2-0 on Thursday, will have it all to do today.
The odds are stacked in favour of Dinthill as St. Mary Technical will have to come up big to end their 10-game unbeaten run. Ben Francis champions Old Harbour must win against Seaforth at Emmett Park and hope for Dinthill to lose to have any hope of advancing.
Despite leading Group One with six points, champions Rusea's must win as long-time nemesis and today's opponents in the second game of the doubleheader, Cornwall College, have a game in hand against Mannings School at the Petersfield Sports Complex on Monday.
Even a draw will leave the group wide open as Cornwall could advance on goal difference if both teams are tied on seven points. Rusea's were 2-0 winners when the teams last met at this same stage last year.
TODAY'S GAMES
Group One: Rusea's vs Cornwall - Jarrett Park - 4:00 p.m.
Mannings vs Cedric Titus - Elliston - Wakeland - 3:30 p.m.
Group Two: Frome vs William Knibb - Jarrett Park - 2:00 p.m.
Petersfield vs Brown's Town - Little London - 3:30 p.m.
Group Three: Manchester vs Munro - STETHS - 3:30 p.m.
Christiana vs Clarendon - Porus - 3:30 p.m.
Group Four: Bellefield vs STETHS - Black River - 3:30 p.m.
Holmwood vs Glenmuir - Brooks Park - 3:30 p.m.
Group Five: Titchfield vs Garvey Maceo - Brancourt - 3:30 p.m.
Brimmer Vale vs Charlemont - Dinthill - 3:30 p.m.
Group Six: Seaforth vs Old Harbour - Emmett Park - 3:30 p.m.
St. Mary Technical vs Dinthill - Buff Bay - 3:30 p.m.
