By Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
THE final of the ISSA/Wilco Headley Cup cricket competition for rural schools gets underway this morning with defending champions St. Elizabeth Technical (STETHS) up against former champions Holmwood at Alpart Sports, St. Elizabeth starting at 10:30 a.m.
A two innings affair, the match is scheduled for three days. In the event of a draw, the team which has led on first innings will be crowned champions.
STETHS advanced to the final following a 71-run victory over highly touted Vere Technical at Port Esquivel last Thursday. And in the other semi-final at Alpart, Holmwood coasted into the final after gaining first innings points from York Castle.
The Manchester-based Holmwood never bothered to enforce the follow on, opting instead for batting practice in their drawn match.
Against STETHS, Holmwood will find more formidable opponents and the stage is set for an intriguing contest between what is arguably the two best schoolboy cricket teams in the island.
Current national Under-19 coach Junior Bennett will prepare STETHS as usual and Holmwood by Robert Lewis, who has coached them to Headley Cup honours twice in the last six years, the more recent in 1999 with Ricardo Powell at the helm.
Both teams possess a wealth of batting, with National and West Indies 'A' player Brenton Parchment expected to lead the way for STETHS. He can expect good support from National Under-15 players Howard Powell and Shawn Findlay, as well as in-form batsman Nikita Miller, opener Odayne Ewart and Ryan Goss.
STETHS are particularly strong in the bowling department with pacemen Conroy Miller and Jermaine Taylor expected to spearhead a potent attack, supported by Parchment, Wayne Simpson, Sheldon Bentley and top spinner Nikita Miller.
While Holmwood might not be as strong as STETHS in bowling, their depth in batting could well pave the way for victory.
Top batsmen are Gary Graham who cracked a century (117) against York Castle, captain and National Under-15 player Chacon Chambers, Howard Jamerson, Lancelot Warren, Denroy Morgan, Odean Brown along with Andre Dwyer and allrounder David Powell, who scored two half centuries against York Castle last week. Holmwood will look to Powell, Arden Frew and spinner Odean Brown to get among the wickets.
The Headley Cup champions will meet the Grace Shield Corporate Area champions for the Spalding Cup in the weeks ahead. Defending champions Kingston College and St. Jago have already qualified for the final.
