Rush on for final places

THE DESPERATE rush for points in Group A and C to qualify for the next round of the Pepsi/Sports Plus Manning Cup competition continue today.

Five teams with a chance of winning places in the round of 12 will have their final opportunity.

The key Group A clash will feature Holy Trinity against visitors St. Catherine at Breezy Castle. Both teams are locked on 11 points and are lying joint second behind defending champions Norman Manley who took the first qualifying spot. Norman Manley, with 21 points, will face out-of-contention Clan Carthy, a team they beat 2-0 on September 24, in their final preliminary game.

It is now up to Holy Trinity and St. Catherine to battle for the second qualifying spot in the group. Apart from points, the teams have a similar goal average of +2 but the difference is that Holy Trinity scored 15 goals compared to their rivals' 14. The goals compared could be a big factor should they finish in a tie as the did in their first meeting on September 24.

In Group C, joint leaders Bridgeport Comprehensive and Jamaica College (16 points) and Dunoon 13 points are battling for the two qualifying spots.

Hosts Jamaica College need only to avoid a huge loss to Dunoon Technical in order to qualify. Victory for Dunoon means they will join the frontrunners on 16 points but a +2 goal average does not say much compared to JC's +11. Both teams played to a goalless draw in their first outing.

Bridgeport Comprehensive look a safe bet to qualify as they will take the field tomorrow against second-from-bottom St. George's College (four points).

The other team with chance of qualifying is Donald Quarrie (eight points) who is second-from-bottom in Group B.

Donald Quarrie will travel to already qualified Wolmer's (17 points) with a slim chance. A win for Donald Quarrie would push them to joint second with Waterford on 11 points. However, Waterford will have to lose by a hugh margin to bottom-placed Excelsior (four points) tomorrow for Donald Quarrie to advance.

MANNING CUP STANDINGS

Group A

	P	W	L	D	GF	GA	Pts
N. Manley	7	7	0	0	18	1	21
Holy Trinity	7	3	2	2	15	13	11
St. Catherine	7	3	2	2	14	12	11
Clan Carthy	7	1	4	2	6	12	5
Ascot	8	1	7	0	8	22	3

Group B

Wolmer's	7	5	0	2	21	4	17
Waterford	7	3	2	2	9	8	11
H. Selassie	8	2	3	3	8	14	9
D. Quarrie	7	2	3	2	8	11	8
Excelsior	7	1	5	1	9	21	4

Group C

Bridgeport	7	5	1	1	19	6	16
JC	7	5	1	1	15	4	16
Dunoon	7	4	2	1	8	6	13
St. George's	7	1	5	1	6	11	4
Jose Marti	8	1	7	0	4	24	3

Group D

C. Smith	9	7	0	2	27	3	23
KC	8	5	0	3	19	6	18
Vauxhall	8	4	3	1	10	8	13
Calabar	9	3	4	2	11	12	11
Trench Town	9	1	8	0	8	25	3
Pemb. Hall	7	1	6	0	5	25	3

Group E

Sp. Town	9	7	2	0	20	7	21
Tivoli	9	5	3	1	16	9	16
STATHS	9	5	3	1	14	9	16
Den. Town	9	4	3	2	9	9	14
Penwood	9	2	6	1	3	13	7
St. Jago	9	1	7	1	4	19	4

Group F

J. Grant	9	7	1	1	33	5	22
Camperdown	9	5	1	3	20	7	18
Campion	9	5	3	1	15	18	16
KTHS	9	4	3	2	16	9	14
G. Portmore	9	1	7	1	7	33	4
								Kgn High	9	0	7	2	8	26	2

TODAY'S GAME

* Clan Carthy vs Norman Manley at KTHS field (Deanery Road)

* Holy Trinity vs St. Catherine at Breezy Castle

* Wolmer's vs Donald Quarrie at Wolmer's

* KC vs Trench Town at KC (North Street)

* Pembroke Hall vs Calabar at Pembroke Hall

* Vauxhall vs Charlie Smith at Vauxhall

* JC vs Dunoon at JC

All games kick off at 3:30 p.m.

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