Four Jamaican secondary schools have positioned themselves as frontrunners in the ISSA/Burger King Rural Area Under-14 football competition after securing their second consecutive victories in the tournament’s second round on Monday.
Cornwall College, Belair High, Manchester High, and St Thomas Technical each accumulated a perfect six points from two matches, placing them in strong contention to advance from their respective groups. The top two teams from each group will progress to the quarter-final stage of the prestigious schoolboy football championship.
In Westmoreland, Cornwall College maintained their Group 1 leadership despite conceding their first goal of the season, securing a 2-1 victory over Grange Hill High. This followed their impressive 3-0 win against Cedric Titus High last Friday.
Group 3 witnessed an offensive spectacle as Belair High emerged victorious from a seven-goal thriller against St Elizabeth Technical, winning 4-3. This result dropped STETHS to second place alongside Brown’s Town High, who dominated Alphansus Davis High with a 4-0 clean sheet.
Manchester High demonstrated their prowess in Group 4 with a decisive 3-1 triumph over Munro College, while Central High and Bellefield High played to a 2-2 draw, leaving both teams with single points.
St Thomas Technical claimed their second win in Group 5 with a narrow 3-2 victory over York Castle High. The group saw further drama as McGrath High defeated defending champions Glenmuir High, though both teams remain level on three points with Glenmuir maintaining advantage on goal difference.
Monday’s matches produced several notable performances, including Rusea’s High spectacular 10-2 demolition of Cedric Titus in Lucea, propelling them to second place in Group 1. Group 2 remains intensely competitive with a three-way tie between Anchovy High, Irwin High, and William Knibb Memorial after William Knibb’s 1-0 win over Anchovy and Irwin’s 2-0 victory against Godfrey Stewart.
The competition continues to showcase emerging football talent across Jamaica’s rural schools, with several groups remaining tightly contested as teams vie for quarter-final qualification.