Howard Walker, Staff Reporter

Tarrant's Richard Williams (right) tries to keep his balance after Calabar's Conroy Cunningham challenges him during their ISSA/Pepsi/JN Manning Cup match. Calabar won 12-1. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
CALABAR HIGH registered the biggest win of the new ISSA/Pepsi/JN Manning Cup seasom with a massive 12-1 thrashing of Tarrant yesterday at their Red Hills Road school ground.
Ramone Palmer led the onslaught with four goals in the 38th, 44th, 66th and 88th minutes and was ably supported by captain Robert Palmer (sixth, 22nd), Lennox Creary (25th, 41t), Akeem Bennett (74th, 82nd), Kabari Palmer (34th) and Kirk Duckworth (76th).
Richard Williams got the lone goal for Tarrant from the penalty spot in the 62nd minute to reduce the score then to 7-1.
Last year's beaten finalists started impressively in their hunt for their first title in 29 years and certainly sent a strong message that they will be among the top contenders.
Although playing against a weak team lacking verve, the green and black bearers, showed that they have the killer instinct with a fine display of attacking football.
Winning coach David Hunt said: "It was not an easy stroll in the park as a lot of hard work and preparation has been put into this game.
"Tarrant started out a little bit slowly and we got on top of them which was lucky for us and we were able to keep that momentum going," he said.
With the core of last year's winning Under-16 Colts team blending with the players that made the Manning Cup final, Calabar are considered one of the favourites to lift the trophy for the first time since 1977.
Coach Hunt, a former Kingston College past student, said it all depends on how the players apply themselves throughout the season.
Meanwhile, Andre Rose, coach of Tarrant High, who were thrashed 13-0 by St. Jago last year, said it was an experience for his young team and marked improvement is expected throughout the season.
"It was really a good game, it could have been better as we conceded some really simple goals as the players did not understand the roles and responsibility," said Rose.
SCOREBOARD
Group B: Charlie Smith 4 Vauxhall 0, Calabar 12 Tarrant 1, Ardenne 2 Dunoon 1.
Group D: Kingston High 2 Waterford 4, Edith Dalton James 2 St George's College 1.
Group F: St Catherine 1 Ascot 1, Wolmer's 1 Donald Quarrie 1.