Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

HOLMWOOD HAD their best day in the 2006 ISSA/Pepsi/JN daCosta Cup yesterday when they score a big 9-0 win over Knox in their Zone G game to jump to six points and second place in the group behind leaders Spalding (nine). In the other game in the group, Christiana blanked Porus 2-0.

In other games yesterday, the results were as follows: Titchfield blanked Paul Bogle 2-0, Seaforth clipped Fair Prospect 1-1 while Happy Grove and Port Antonio ended 0-0 in action from the competition's Zone L.

The competition will continue this afternoon with several teams completing their first-round fixtures with action in seven of the competition's 12 zones.

crucial return leg

While all the games are of paramount importance in the teams' bid to get ready for the crucial return leg games, which will decide the inter-zone qualifiers, the big top-of-the-table Zone C clash between Petersfield and Grange Hill, who are both on seven points from three games, should take centre stage.

While the home team, Petersfield, has had the distinction of beating defending champions Godfrey Stewart 2-0, humbling Maud McLeod 3-1 and drawing 0-0 with Manning's in their three games, the sprightly Grange Hill have been quite impressive, drawing 1-1 with the champions and defeating Maud McLeod and Manning by 3-1 and 1-0 margins respectively.

While Petersfield will probably enter the game as favourites on the strength of their win against Godfrey Stewart, based on their general results to date, both teams seem equally matched offensively and defensively. Petersfield have scored five goals and conceded one while Grange Hill have scored five and given up two.

Today's games

Zone A: St. James vs Maldon, William Knibb vs Cornwall College.

Zone B: Knockalva vs Cambridge, Frome vs Anchovy.

Zone C: Maud McLeod vs Godfrey Stewart, Petersfield vs Grange Hill.

Zone E: Maggotty vs Munro, Newell vs Lacovia, STETHS vs Black River.

Zone I: Kemps Hill vs Garvey Maceo, Glenmuir vs Central, Old Harbour vs Vere.

Zone J: Dinthill vs Glengoffe, Ewarton vs Bog Walk, McGrath vs Charlemont.

Zone K: St. Mary High vs Iona, Islington vs Oracabessa.