Campion and Tivoli advance in Manning Cup; St Jago still in contention

Campion College and Tivoli Gardens High on Saturday became the latest teams to secure their spots in the second round of the urban-area ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup football competition, while St Jago High remain in the hunt but can only qualify as one of the best third-placed teams.

The addition of Campion from Zone C and Tivoli from Zone E brings the total number of second-round qualifiers to 12, leaving four spots still up for grabs.

The first round will conclude with the top two teams from each of the seven zones, plus the two best third-placed teams, advancing to the second round for a total of 16 teams.

The 12 teams confirmed for the next round so far are Eltham High and Hydel High (Zone A), Mona High (Zone B), Kingston College and Campion College (Zone C), Calabar and St Andrew Technical High School (Zone D), Wolmer’s Boys and Tivoli Gardens High (Zone E), Jamaica College (Zone F), and St George’s College and St Catherine High (Zone G).

Campion and Tivoli secured their advancement with victories in Saturday’s round of return-leg fixtures.

Campion edged out Jose Marti Technical High School 1-0 at home, marking their seventh win in nine matches, keeping them in second place in Zone C, behind 16-time champions Kingston College (KC) who hammered Meadowbrook High 14-0.

With one round of matches remaining in the zone, Campion entered the day with 19 points and needed just a draw to confirm their place in the second round. Their victory brought them to 22 points, ensuring they cannot be surpassed by third-place Jose Marti. The two schools had previously drawn 2-2 in their first leg match a month ago.

Tivoli Gardens High, needing just a draw to confirm their spot, sealed their qualification with a comfortable 3-0 victory over fifth-place St Mary’s College at home. They now sit on 24 points, one point behind zone leaders Wolmer’s, and are out of reach for third-place St Jago High. Spanish Town-based St Jago, who drew 1-1 with Wolmer’s at Mico University College, currently have 16 points. They can still advance as one of the best third-placed teams if they defeat Denham Town High in their final match on Thursday. St Jago won their previous encounter against Denham Town 3-1 on September 27.

Meanwhile, in the rural-area ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup competition, Maldon High secured their first-ever spot in the second round after a dramatic 1-1 draw with Green Pond High at the Granville Community Centre.

Maldon High's qualification marks a significant milestone as they join six other teams advancing to the second round of the ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup, bringing the total to 30. The second round will feature 32 teams, with the remaining two spots to be determined on Monday.

At the end of the first round, the top three teams from each of the five zones with seven or more teams, along with the top two from the other eight zones, will automatically qualify. The final spot will be awarded to the best third-place team.

In a thrilling finish to their Zone A return match, Garth-Dane Bromwell put Green Pond ahead in the 85th minute, putting them on track for back-to-back wins and a spot in the second round for the first time since 2019. However, Maldon struck late to equalize and secure their historic qualification.

Defending champions Clarendon College also advanced from Zone H despite a 2-1 loss to Denbigh High, who avenged an earlier defeat and joined Clarendon in the second round. Denbigh's victory marked only their second-ever win over the multiple-time champions, shaking up the group standings. Central High took the lead in the zone after a 3-2 win over Lennon High, with Clarendon now in second and Denbigh closely following in third, all with one game remaining.

Former champions Frome Technical, Rusea’s High, and St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) also secured their places in the next round.

The confirmed teams for the next round so far are Cornwall College and Maldon High (Zone A); Frome Technical and Rusea’s High (Zone B); The Manning’s School and Black River High (Zone C); Spot Valley High and William Knibb Memorial High (Zone D); Munro College and STETHS (Zone E); Belair High and Manchester High (Zone F); Christian High and Holmwood Technical (Zone G); Central High, Clarendon College and Denbigh High (Zone H); Glenmuir High, Garvey Maceo High and Kemps Hill High (Z0ne 1); McGrath High and Dinthill Technical (Zone J); Ocho Rios High and Brown’s Town High (Zone K); Happy Grove, Paul Bogle High and Yallahs High (Zone L); Port Antonio High, Titchfield High and St Mary High (Zone M).

SATURDAY'S RESULTS

Manning CupKC 14, Meadowbrook High 0Cumberland High 1, Penwood High 4Campion College 1, Jose Marti Technical 0Tivoli Gardens High 3, St Mary’s College 0Denham Town High 2, Edith Dalton James High 1Wolmer’s 1, St Jago High 1

Next matchday (Tuesday)- All games are scheduled to start at 3:30 pmSTATHS vs Kingston Technical at Boys’ TownCalabar High vs Vauxhall High at CalabarHaile Selassie High vs Camperdown High at Haile SelassieAscot High vs Pembroke Hall High at DunbeholdenCharlie Smith High vs Tarrant High at Charlie Smith High

daCosta CupCornwall College 0, St James High 0Herbert Morrison Technical 2, Irwin High 0Maldon High 1, Green Pond High 1Knockalva 1, Cambridge High 5Green Island High 0, Rusea’s High 1Anchovy High 0, Frome Technical 3Grange Hill High 0, The Manning’s School 6Black River High 5, Little London High 0STETHS 2, Munro College 1Lacovia High 2,  B.B. Coke High 10Maggotty High 0, Newell High 0Central High 3, Lennon High 2Denbigh High 2, Clarendon College 1Glenmuir High 1, Garvey Maceo High 2Old Harbour High 1, Kemps Hill High 0

Next matchday (Monday)- All games are scheduled to start at 3:30 pmRusea’s High vs Knockalva at Rusea’sCambridge High vs Anchoy High at Cambridge|Frome Technical vs Green Island High at FromeBellefield High vs Alphansus Davis at Alphansus DavisClarendon College vs Central High