Adrian Frater, News Editor
Members of the Herbert Morrison coaching staff and supporters work hard to dry-out the playing surface for Thursday's rescheduled Zone A daCosta Cup game between Herbert Morrison and Irwin High School. - PHOTO BYADRIAN FRATER
WESTERN BUREAU: HERBERT MORRISON High School, which is still awaiting a ruling on Thursday's no-show by Irwin High School, will officially end
their campaign in Zone A of the 2005 ISSA/Pepsi/Jamaica National daCosta Cup this afternoon when they entertain Maldon High today in a must-win rescheduled game, in Montego Bay.
Now on 23 points and virtually assured of being awarded the points from Irwin's no-show, a victory for 'Herbie' today would lift them to 29 points (the Maldon points included), which would take them past Anchovy High (28), the team they are battling with for the final inter-zone slot from the group.
IRWIN'S NO-SHOW
"While we are confident of getting the points from the Irwin game, we have no control over what ruling ISSA will make," said Clifton Kellier, coach of the Herbert Morrison team. "We are faced with a must-win situation against Maldon and we intend to go out there and win the game."
Following Irwin's no-show, referee Ricardo Sailsman, who checked-off the Herbert Morrison team prior to calling off the game, told The Gleaner that his report to ISSA would indicate that the venue, which was waterlogged earlier in the week, was in a playable condition but Irwin High failed to show for the game.
When ISSA was contacted about a possible ruling, George Forbes, who co-ordinates the competition, said in cases where a team fail to show without a plausible reason, the other teams would be awarded full points and two goals.
"Once we get the referees report and we are satisfied that everything was in place for the game, we will make a ruling," said Forbes. "Generally, the team that fail to show lose the points."
GOOD OFFENSE
For today's game, which is slated for 1:00 p.m., the Herbert Morrison team cannot take Maldon lightly. In their first round game, it took a late goal to earn them a 3-3 draw as the Irwin team exhibited good offensive qualities. However, with nothing in the game for them, the Maldon team is unlikely to be fully motivated.
Cornwall College topped the zone with 33 points.
