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West in 9th straight daCosta Cup final
By PAUL A REID Observer West writer
MONTEGO BAY, St James
Frome Technical last Saturday extended western Jamaica’s participation in the ISSA/Pepsi/JN daCosta Cup finals to nine straight years, after beating former champions Clarendon College 1-0 in the semi-finals at the St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS).
Demar Howard’s first-half goal was enough to send Frome Technical to Saturday’s final — their third final in the past four years as they stayed on course to win the rural area double after taking the Ben Francis Knock Out earlier.
Frome will face Glenmuir High at Jarrett Park in a repeat of the 2004 finals, which the Clarendon school won. The ‘Boysie’ Nicholsoncoached Frome had also beaten Clarendon College in the Ben Francis final, prevailing on penalty kicks after coming from behind to earn a 1-1 draw in a match that was also played at STETHS.
In 2003, Frome won Westmoreland’s first daCosta Cup title, beating William Knibb Memorial High of Trelawny in the most recent finals featuring two western schools.
With the exception of the 1996 finals — contested between Clarendon College and Glenmuir High — western schools have played in the last 23 finals dating back to 1982. The competition was not played in 1997 due to threats made against the principal of Charlie Smith High School Lorna Chevannes after she refused to readmit students who had played the previous year.
Western teams have dominated the competition since 1982 when the Steve Bucknor-coached Cornwall College won the first of back-toback titles, breaking a personal title drought of 19 years.
Cornwall went on to win five of their 11 titles in that span, bettered only by Rusea’s High who won eight — 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993 and 2002. Herbert Morrison won twice — 1986 and 1988 — while STETHS won in 1999. Godfrey Stewart High got their first title last year.
Frome will start this Saturday’s final as favourites, despite several key players nursing injuries. Wingback Paul Graham seems set to miss his third straight game with an ankle injury, joining Kevon Wynter who broke his leg in a Ben Francis Knock Out game against Munro at STETHS.
Midfielders Obrian Woodbine and Delano Rankine, as well as winger Kesrick Samuels and central defender Odaine Ottey are also nursing injuries. They were, however, able to shrug off the effects and dominated Clarendon College in cool, wet conditions in Santa Cruz on Saturday.
Frome Technical’s midfielder Obrian Woodbine (left) makes a cross just ahead of two Clarendon College players in the first half of Saturday’s ISSA daCosta Cup semi-final at St Elizabeth Technical High. Frome won the game 1-0 to advance to Saturday’s final against Glenmuir at Jarrett Park /Photo Paul Reid
By PAUL A REID Observer West writer
MONTEGO BAY, St James
Frome Technical last Saturday extended western Jamaica’s participation in the ISSA/Pepsi/JN daCosta Cup finals to nine straight years, after beating former champions Clarendon College 1-0 in the semi-finals at the St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS).
Demar Howard’s first-half goal was enough to send Frome Technical to Saturday’s final — their third final in the past four years as they stayed on course to win the rural area double after taking the Ben Francis Knock Out earlier.
Frome will face Glenmuir High at Jarrett Park in a repeat of the 2004 finals, which the Clarendon school won. The ‘Boysie’ Nicholsoncoached Frome had also beaten Clarendon College in the Ben Francis final, prevailing on penalty kicks after coming from behind to earn a 1-1 draw in a match that was also played at STETHS.
In 2003, Frome won Westmoreland’s first daCosta Cup title, beating William Knibb Memorial High of Trelawny in the most recent finals featuring two western schools.
With the exception of the 1996 finals — contested between Clarendon College and Glenmuir High — western schools have played in the last 23 finals dating back to 1982. The competition was not played in 1997 due to threats made against the principal of Charlie Smith High School Lorna Chevannes after she refused to readmit students who had played the previous year.
Western teams have dominated the competition since 1982 when the Steve Bucknor-coached Cornwall College won the first of back-toback titles, breaking a personal title drought of 19 years.
Cornwall went on to win five of their 11 titles in that span, bettered only by Rusea’s High who won eight — 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993 and 2002. Herbert Morrison won twice — 1986 and 1988 — while STETHS won in 1999. Godfrey Stewart High got their first title last year.
Frome will start this Saturday’s final as favourites, despite several key players nursing injuries. Wingback Paul Graham seems set to miss his third straight game with an ankle injury, joining Kevon Wynter who broke his leg in a Ben Francis Knock Out game against Munro at STETHS.
Midfielders Obrian Woodbine and Delano Rankine, as well as winger Kesrick Samuels and central defender Odaine Ottey are also nursing injuries. They were, however, able to shrug off the effects and dominated Clarendon College in cool, wet conditions in Santa Cruz on Saturday.
Frome Technical’s midfielder Obrian Woodbine (left) makes a cross just ahead of two Clarendon College players in the first half of Saturday’s ISSA daCosta Cup semi-final at St Elizabeth Technical High. Frome won the game 1-0 to advance to Saturday’s final against Glenmuir at Jarrett Park /Photo Paul Reid
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