Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
Eltham High's captain Dwayne Hunter (front). - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
WHEN THE 2006 Manning Cup season kicks off next Saturday there will be one new entrant in Oberlin High and two returning teams in Camperdown and St. Mary's College.
Oberlin is out of Lawrence Tavern, rural St. Andrew, while St. Mary's College is from St. Catherine, and are returning after many years out of the competition.
Three-time winners Camperdown make a welcome return after missing last year's tournament due to internal strife.
Meanwhile, five schools in Trench Town, Vauxhall High, Ascot, Haile Selassie and Clan Carthy will miss this season's competition.
Mammoth task
Thirty-five teams will have the mammoth task of overthrowing Calabar High as champions with only a few having a realistic chance of accomplishing that feat.
The Manning Cup will be divided into six zones, lettering from A-F with Zone F seeming to be the Group of Death.
With the likes of 2001 winners Bridgeport High, last season's pre-tournament favourites; 10-time winners Wolmer's Boys'; 14-time winners Kingston College and the dangerous Ardenne High - winners in 1991, any number can play in this group and it should be close going all the way.
Defending champions Calabar will have their hands full in Zone E but should advance ahead of traditional giants St. George's College and Jamaica College.
Easy passage
Last year's beaten finalists Norman Manley seem to have an easy passage out of Zone B, matching up against Mona High, Spanish Town, St. Jago and Donald Quarrie.
Last year's debutants, Eltham High, were the surprise team - topping their group which included Kingston College and Bridgeport before faltering at the semi-final stage.
They head Zone D and, although retaining most of their players, will have to keep their focus to finish ahead of Tivoli Gardens, Camperdown, Meadowbrook and Campion College.
Zone A and Zone C are wide open. Three-time winners Charlie Smith should top Zone C ahead of the depleted St. Catherine High, Jonathan Grant and Kingston Technical.
Zone A should provide a keen tussle between 2003 winners Excelsior High, Dunoon High, Waterford and St. Andrew Technical.
All in all, the 2006 Manning Cup season should provide some epic battles between traditional rivals and a few surprises will be in store.
