Sport

Tivoli on a roll!

By PAUL-ANDRE WALKER, Staff Reporter

carlington wilmot - Norman Manley's Dwayne Watson tries to break away from Spanish Town right-back Derval Willis during their ISSA Pepsi/Sports Plus Manning Cup game at Prison Oval yesterday. Spanish Town won 1-0.

TIVOLI Gardens High, led by a hat-trick from Jermaine Allen in yesterday's 6-0 victory over Kingston Technical High, kept their one-point lead intact in Group C of the ISSA Pepsi/Sports Plus Manning Cup.

Second-placed Spanish Town earned a hard fought 1-0 victory over Norman Manley to move to 13 points, one off group leaders Tivoli.

Elsewhere in the group, last season's semi-finalists Norman Manley are on their way to a first round exit. Still on five points from a maximum 14, it is almost impossible for them to overtake the top two teams.

However, Spanish Town will still have to pay attention to Kingston Technical, who are on seven points with three games to go and could surpass them. This also means that Tivoli, for all their plus-29 goal average, still have some work to do.

Excelsior in Group 'A' also have to be careful even though their 5-0 victory over Jose Marti saw them extending their lead over the pack.

Interesting battle

The Mountain View Avenue-based lads moved to 13 points with their closest rivals being STATHS, who have eight. Jamaica College are a point behind STATHS, who got the one point jump in today's 2-0 victory over Edith Dalton-James to keep themselves in the runnings.

With three rounds of games to go in this group, Jose Marti (3) will have to win every game from here and hope that STATHS, who are second with eight points do not pick up two points along the way, which is a likely possibility, having Jamaica College and Excelsior left to play.

Whereas Groups A and C have managed to keep the status quo that prevailed during their last round of games, the same cannot be said for Group E.

Bridgeport and Mona have found themselves in an interesting battle for second position because Clan Carthy have reamined consistent at the top of the group.

Yesterday, Mona gained the ascendency after Bridgeport's game against Ardenne was postponed because of an unmarked field. If Bridgeport are penalised for that game then they could have a problem, considering Mona's 5-0 victory over Innswood.

That victory has left the top three in the group precariously poised. Clan Carthy lead with 14 points after defeating Campion 2-0 and Mona are second with 11 and Bridgeport third with 10.

Today's games will see Groups B, D, and F, in action. Group B has match-ups that are of significance given the battle between St. Jago and Meadowbrook for second place behind Camperdown, who have been perfect so far.

After their 1-0 victory over St. Jago on Saturday, Meadowbrook now turn their sights to Penwood, who they will play at the Jamintel Sports Complex in an attempt to maintain their one-point lead over the Spanish Town-based team. The last time the teams met the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

St. Jago have an opportunity to keep pace however as they will play Denham Town at Prison Oval. Denham Town, to the glee of St. Jago, have no points from six starts and shouldn't pose a threat.

Camperdown will play Tarrant, who are a win behind St. Jago and must be harbouring hopes of a second round berth. That game takes place at Vauxhall.

Group D also has some interest because Calabar, who have faltered somewhat since their winning start, will get their second crack at St. George's, who are runaway leaders on 13 points with Donald Quarrie (6) being their closest rivals. That game will be played at Calabar.

Wide open

The battle for second place is wide open in Group D. Even though Calabar are fourth with four points they can leapfrog Donald Quarrie because they have a game in hand.

A victory for Calabar might still see them in third place as Vauxhall, who lie a point above them in third are travelling to St. Catherine. The homesters are yet to earn a point after two starts.

In Group F, Wolmer's (15) have emerged giants but the battle is on for second place. Dunoon, who have steadily improved, are second with seven points and have Kingston College (KC) behind them on five. KC have a game in hand, a home game today against Greater Portmore.

Dunoon have to be wary and will try remaining ahead when they play Waterford at Cement Company. They got by Waterford in a close 2-1 game in the first round and will be hoping to do better in the return.

YESTERDAY'S RESULTS

Excelsior 5 Jose Marti 0

Edith Dalton 0 STATHS 2

Tivoli 6 KTHS 0

Bridgeport Ardenne postponed

Clan Carthy 2 Campion 0

Mona 5 Innswood 0

TODAY'S GAMES

Camperdown vs Tarrant at Vauxhall

St. Jago vs. Denham Town at Prison Oval

Penwood vs. Meadowbrook at Jamintel Sports Complex

Calabar vs. St. George's at Calabar

St. Catherine vs. Vauxhall at St. Catherine

Dunoon vs. Waterford at Cement Company

KC vs. Greater Portmore at KC

All games begin at 3:30 p.m.