Western Bureau:

With reigning champions St James High School and many-time champions Cornwall College already assured of their place in the inter-zone round of the 2009 ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel rural area daCosta Cup schoolboy football competition, Manchester High and Spaldings High could join them today.

Except for what would be the upset of the century, Manchester should easily gain the three points needed to put them across the inter-zone threshold when they play away to out-of-contention May Day in their Zone F fixture.

The Manchester team, which leads the group with 18 points accumulated through six wins and one defeat, spanked May Day 6-1 in their first-round fixture.

Spaldings, last year's beaten finalists and runaway leaders in Zone G with maximum 18 points from their six consecutive wins, will seal an inter-zone place with a win against the gritty Edwin Allen, who are second in the group on 13 points and also highly fancied to make the inter-zone round.

Despite the fact that the zone's two inter-zone qualifiers have been decided, interest still remains high in Zone A where St James and Cornwall are locked in a keen tussle for the group's lone Ben Francis Knockout slot. St James are the defending champions.

In today's games, St James, with 21 points from eight games, will tackle Herbert Morrison Technical at Jarrett Park, while Cornwall, with maximum 18 points from six games, will play away to the tricky Muschett High (9) at Wakefield in Trelawny.

With the points standings very close in several zones, the action in zones D, E, and I should be closely watched.

In Zone D, where a major battle is on for the two inter-zone places between leaders Marcus Garvey Technical (19), Cedric Titus (18) and William Knibb (16), today should be crucial as with Marcus Garvey on a break, Cedric Titus and William Knibb will both be aiming to make up ground in their games against Ocho Rios (6) and Aabuthnott Gallimore (12), respectively.

Zone A: St James vs Herbert Morrison at Jarrett Park, Muschett vs Cornwall College at Wakefield

Zone B: Frome vs Rusea's at Frome

Zone C: Godfrey Stewart vs Manning's at Godfrey Stewart, Petersfield vs Grange Hill at Petersfield

Zone D: Ocho Rios vs William Knibb at Drax Hall, York Castle vs Brown's Town at York Castle, A Gallimore vs Cedric Titus at Wilson Shop

Zone E: Newell vs Black River at Newell, Lacovia vs STETHS at Lacovia, Munro vs Balaclava at Munro

Zone F: Decateret vs Bellefield at Decarteret, Cross Keys vs Belair at Cross Keys, May Day vs Manchester at May Day

Zone G: Holmwood vs Porus at Holmwood, Knox vs Christiana at Knox, Spaldings vs Edwin Allen at Spaldings

Zone H: Claude McKay vs Vere at Claude McKay, Lennon vs Denbigh at Lennon

Zone I: Glenmuir vs Garvey Maceo at Glenmuir, Tacius Golding vs Old Harbour at Tacius Golding, Kemps Hill vs Central at Kemps Hill

Zone J: Ewarton vs Bog Walk at Ewarton, Dinthill vs Charlemont at Dinthill, McGrath vs Tacky at McGrath

Zone K: St Mary Tech vs Iona at Richmond Prison Farm, Brimmervale vs Islington at Clemhards Park, Oracabessa vs Annotto Bay at Jack's River

Zone L: Port Antonio vs Seaforth High at Calder Park, Fair Prospect vs Paul Bogle at Fair Prospect