Western Bureau:

Newly crowned Ben Francis Knockout champion Glenmuir High School started their ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup inter-zone campaign in fine style yesterday afternoon when they registered a 2-0 win against Port Antonio High in their Group Five game at Carder Park in Portland.

Glenmuir, who are now favourites to complete the rural double - Ben Francis KO and daCosta Cup - got both goals from the boots of the wily Roman Whittaker.

"It was a case of coping with the conditions because the field was waterlogged and one time I believed the referee would have blown off the game," said Glenmuir's coach Patrick 'Jackie' Walters. "Nonetheless, we are happy with the final result."

In the second game in the group, Bog Walk joined Glenmuir as the group's early leaders with a hard-fought 4-2 win over Annotto Bay at the St Mary Sports Club.

Bad start

Reigning champions St James High got off to a less than desirable start when they battled to a 0-0 draw against Frome Technical in their Group One game at Frome Sports Ground in Westmoreland.

"We played below par in the first half but showed some improvements in the second half," said St James High's coach, Pastor Hugh Solomon. "In fact, we got a few reasonable chances to have scored."

With St James High and Frome sharing the points in their game, Manning's School took sole leadership of the group after their 2-0 win over William Knibb High School. Asoni Samuels and James Walton were the players on target for the Aaron Lawrence-coached Manning's.

Garvey Maceo, who got a lifeline on account of the withdrawal of Old Harbour, could only manage a 1-1 draw against Paul Bogle in their Group Six game at York Oval in St Thomas. However, while they were settling for just a point from the game, Dinthill became sole group leaders with a 3-1 win against St Mary Technical.

In Group Three, beaten Ben Francis KO finalists Munro College could only manage a 1-1 draw with Clarendon College in their game at Jamalco.

Yesterday's results

Group One: Manning's 2 William Knibb 0, Frome Tech 0 St James 0

Group Two: Cornwall College 1 Rusea's 1, Marcus Garvey 1 Grange Hill 0

Group Three: Clarendon College 1 Munro 1, Spaldings 1 Bellefield 0

Group Four: Manchester 1 Edwin Allen 0, Lennon 1 STETHS 1

Group Five: Glenmuir 2 Port Antonio 0, Annotto Bay 4 Bog Walk 2

Group Six: Paul Bogle 1 Garvey Maceo 1, Dinthill 3 St Mary Tech 1