Adrian Frater, News Editor

GAMES

Clarendon College vs Rusea's at STETHS

Glenmuir vs Garvey Maceo at Brancourt

Denbigh vs Frome at Brooks Park

Titchfield vs Bog Walk at Carder Park

All games are slated to begin at 3:00 p.m.

Western Bureau:

As the 2006 ISSA/Pepsi/JN daCosta Cup approaches the home straight, the eight teams that advanced from the inter-zone round will resume their battle for the semi-finals with four quarter-final matches this afternoon.

The games down for contention are as follows: Group One - Clarendon College vs Rusea's and Glenmuir vs Garvey Maceo; and Group Two - Denbigh vs Frome Technical and Titchfield vs Bog Walk. The two top teams in each zone will advance to the semi-finals.

Based on their success this season and the quality players in their line-up, Ben Francis KO champions Frome should start favourites against Denbigh in their game at Brooks Park in Mandeville.

However, having topped Group Three of the inter-zone round ahead of the likes of Spaldings and Manchester High, Denbigh are expected to give a good account of themselves.

"The players realise that we have a job to do and I expect them to go out there and do it," said Boysie Nicholson, the coach of the Frome team. "Our main ambition for the season is to win the daCosta Cup ... that is the one we want the most."

Worth watching

The game between Clarendon College and Rusea's at St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) should be worth going miles to see, based on the fabulous history of the teams, which share a total of 14 daCosta Cup titles between.

While Clarendon College, the beaten Ben Francis Cup finalists, should start favourites, the Rusea's team is bubbling with confidence.

"This is the stage of the competition where you usually get the best out of Rusea's," said coach Anthony 'Follies' Williams. "While I am not going to make any predictions, you are definitely going to be seeing a Rusea's team that is ready to go places."

The Clarendon derby between Glenmuir and Garvey Maceo at Brancourt has all the makings of an epic showdown. In the round both teams campaigned in Group One and in their two meetings, they battled to 2-2 and 1-1 draws.

Ready to conquer

While Glenmuir, which came through their inter-zone campaign flawlessly, have reason to believe they are finally ready to conquer their parish neighbours, the Garvey Maceo team, which qualified as a best second-place finisher, should not be slighted.

Titchfield, which emerged in fine style from Zone L of the preliminary round and Group Six of the inter-zone round, should start favourites against a Bog Walk team which is venturing into this level of the competition for the first time.

However, having progressed to this stage of the competition, it would be unwise of the Titchfield team not to take them seriously.