The rain pelted occasionally, the lightnings triggered the safety alarms stopping at least two games, in addition to a little over 2 hours lost due to heavy rain at the start of the 2018 renewal of the Jamaica High School Almuni Sports Network Soccer and Netball Tournament at the Lauderhill Sports Complex in Florida on Sunday.
However, despite all the stop and starts and everything that the elements could throw at the organizers, the first of the two day Soccer tournament was highly competitive, exciting and again kept the spectators on the edge of their seats.
It was a day when newcomers Muchette High School and defending Champions Bridgeport were both in sizzling forms, with both going unbeaten and effectively booking a spot in the second round. The newcomers out of Trelawny first knocked off Meadowbrook, 2-nil before holding seasoned campaigners Ferncourt to a goal less draw in Zone A.
The points standings in Zone B’ sees former Champions Cornwall College leading the standings on 4 points, made possible through a goal less draw with Tivoli Comprehensive High School and an exciting 1-nil effort over St Elizabeth Technical(StETHS). Second place meanwhile is being shared between StETHS and Wolmers who both had one victory on the day.
In Zone C’ Glenmuir sits atop the standings on goal difference but the same amount of points (4) along with Old Harbour. Oral Harvey scored the lone goal to help Glenmuir clip Herbert Morrison 1-nil, and they would walk away with an addionional point when they held Old Harbour to a one all draw in the last game of the day.
In what was the shock of the day Kingston College have found themselves on the brink of elimination after losing two games in the group. Losing 1-nil to Old Harbour and suffering a 2-nil blanking by Herbert Morrison.
The defending Champions Bridgeport High earned three points in their opening game in Zone D’ without kicking a ball as their opponents Dinthill High failed to show. Then the St Catherine based school Bridgeport showed spectacular flashes of a well organised team, solid in both attack and defense and re-igniting to some extent last season’s form after they easily dispatched Calabar with former National player Kemar Daley 2-nil to earn six points on the day.
Like KC’ Calabar have found themselves in trouble after losing two matches as well. As they had earlier lost one nil to Clarendon College.
The last eight games of the preliminary round should kick start the second day of the tournament at 10am or (9am Jam Time), with the Second Round Playoff, and the quarterfinal to follow. The semi-Final comes next and Finale at 7:40US Time.
Meanwhile, The netball competition gets underway on Tuesday afternoon at 3pm, where defending Champions Denbigh will face off with The Queens School, Ardenne, Excelsior, Kingsway, Cross Keys an Wolmer’s High School for Girls.