Free-scoring Rusea’s face Frome test

Red-hot 11-time champions Rusea’s High School will look to maintain their perfect record when they face long-time rivals and former Ben Francis Knock-Out champions Frome Technical in their ISSA daCosta Cup Zone B preliminary-round encounter at the Collin Miller Sports Complex at 3:30 p.m. today.

With both teams eyeing an early advantage in the preliminary round, Rusea’s will enter the contest as the form team, having scored 19 goals since the start of the competition.

Frome head coach Cleighton Stephens has taken note of that form and expects a high-quality contest despite his young roster.

“They remain perfect through the competition so far, and the momentum, I would say, is with them. But you know, it’s a rival game, so I think we’re ready. Even though we have two players out, we think it’s going to be a good game,” said Stephens.

Stephens believes his young team will continue to improve as the competition progresses.

“Our standard of play from the start was poor. We drew in our game against Petersfield 0-0, but so far our preparation [has been] good. We are still trying to fix some stuff. We have a very young team, but we have two experienced players they can learn from,” added Stephens.

Rusea’s lead Zone B on nine points, with Frome second on seven.

Both teams struggled last season and will be determined to signal their return to contention with a statement performance.

It is easy to see why this match, the second of two meetings between the teams in the first round of the competition, carries such significance.

The schools boast some of schoolboy football’s most passionate supporters and, whenever they meet, fireworks are usually expected.

Rusea’s, one of the traditional powerhouses of schoolboy football, are second only to Cornwall College in daCosta Cup titles with 11 championships. The Hanover-based school won its first title in 1984, with its most recent triumph coming in 2017.

Frome, meanwhile, have won the competition once, lifting the title in 2003.

In St Elizabeth, an intriguing derby looms as seven-time champions Munro College host B.B. Coke.

Formerly known as Potsdam College, Munro enter the contest with a proud football tradition and ambitions of returning to their glory days, while also playing in honour of late player Kamal Reynolds.

“I wouldn’t say that Munro is the favourite, but playing at home, you’re expected to win at home. We intend to have Munro as a fortress where we do not lose any game here,” said Munro coach Everdean Scarlett.

“I am hopeful that playing at home, we won’t see the team showing any nervousness. There are areas we definitely worked on in training,” he said.

Both teams enter today’s match-up with perfect starts. Munro are tied on nine points with Black River and B.B. Coke but lead Zone D on goal difference.

Today’s Games

Irwin vs Spot Valley at Irwin

Muschett vs Green Pond at Muschett

St James vs Cambridge at Jarrett Park

Rusea’s vs Frome at Collin Miller Sports Complex

Knockalva vs Grange Hill at Knockalva

Petersfield vs Little London at Petersfield

Cedric Titus vs Discovery Bay at Cedric Titus

Marcus Garvey vs Walkerswood at Drax Hall Sports Complex

York Castle vs Brown’s Town at York Castle

Bellefield vs Vere at Bellefield

Cross Keys vs Foga Road at Cross Keys

Mile Gully vs Porus at Mile Gully Community Centre

Winston Jones vs May Day at Winston Jones

Edwin Allen vs Alphansus Davis at Edwin Allen

Holmwood vs Knox College at Holmwood

Troy vs Alston at Troy

Robert Lightbourne vs Morant Bay at Robert Lightbourne

Seaforth vs Happy Grove at Seaforth

Yallahs vs Fair Prospect at Yallahs

All games begin at 3:30 p.m.