Manning quarterfinals on hold until Friday

FANS WAITING for the start of the quarterfinals of both the ISSA/WATA daCosta and Manning Cup competitions will have to wait a little while longer.

A late release from the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association yesterday put paid to the possibility of today's games, already postponed from Tuesday because of Tropical Storm Rafael, getting under way tomorrow.

According to the release, the games are now scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

The Manning Cup is split into two groups of four for the quarterfinal round with the top two teams from each group making it to the semi-finals.

Defending champions Mona High are the team with the highest expectations from Group A, but they have the challenge of dealing with Kingston College, as well as Jamaica College, in a group that should prove the more competitive of the two.

Tivoli Gardens find themselves in this group too but could be overmatched against the 'big three'.

The grouping suggests that at least one team, thought to be genuine contenders, will have to miss the final four.

In Group B, there are no minnows.

Campion College, who are making it to the final eight for the first time in many a year, would, in times past, look like the weak team in the zone, however, their narrow loss to Mona (2-1) and 3-0 beating of St George's College, suggest otherwise.

Campion have rounded into a confident team and could prove dark horses in a group that should be led by St Catherine High School.

St Catherine have barely got out of first gear this whole tournament but should top the group.

Excelsior High, Campion, and Hydel High, are expected to fight for the second place in the group, but this season has already thrown up surprising results.

Hydel were beaten semi-finalists last year but setbacks at the hands of now-eliminated Eltham on two occasions in the first round, have taken away from their air of invincibility.

Still, there is something to be said about peaking at the right time.

Excelsior have quietly made their way into the final eight and while, not playing the best football of the teams at this stage, have proven to be thorny contenders.

They could easily be the banana peels that cause slip-ups at this crucial stage.