St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) players celebrate by hoisting the Spaulding Cup after beating urban champions Eltham High in the final at STETHS. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

Michael McLean, Gleaner Writer

Lacovia, St. Elizabeth:

Grace Headley Cup champion St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) are still celebrating their 10 hold on the Spaulding Cup following their first innings win over Corporate Area Grace Shield champions Eltham High in the final at STETHS.

STETHS, which won their first Spalding Cup title back in 1983 with national senior coach Junior Bennett in charge, had suffered somwhat of a drought during the last four years as the cup was in the hands of Holmwood Technical.

The match, which was played over three days and ended on Friday, lacked the high standard which is usually associated with the finale that decides all-island schoolboy supremacy.

Clive Ledgister of STETHS was quite pleased with winning the cup for the first time as coach.

"It's a pretty great feeling, winning the Spaulding Cup even though we didn't perform as well as we should have," he said.

Good team effort

"I am still quite happy for the victory, it was a team effort."

Oral Simpson, coach of Eltham, said they lost the match on the first day.

"Overall we really lost the game on the first day we batted. I think making 82 runs and giving a team two and a half days to make the runs, that was poor batting," said Simpson.

"However, we came back and bowled well because STETHS, with no run for two and 19 for four at one stage, I think we had a chance and we played well. And home advantage played a factor in the end."

STETHS scored 119 all out and 62 for two, while Eltham accumulated 82 all out in its first innings and 199 for eight declared in its second knock.

On the first day, the Spanish Town-based Eltham, which won the toss and chose to bat, were skittled out for a paltry 82 on a pitch which favoured the bowlers.

Jason Dawes and Richard Simpson were the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets apiece, while Linton Buchanan grabbed two and Christopher Dyer one on the rain-affected day.

On the second day the home team also performed poorly and could only manage a meagre 199, to get the first innings points.

Romeo Dunka took five for 14 off 11.5 overs, while Fredrick Hermitt picked up three for 39 and Sandre Watson two for 35.