Adrian Frater, News Editor

Vere Technical's goalkeeper Andre Thomas (left) catches the ball ahead of Glenmuir High's Christopher Calder (right) during their JN.Pepsi/ISSA daCosta Cup match at Brancourt, Clarendon Park on Saturday. Calder scored twice (32nd and 41st) and James Thomas added another as Glenmuir won 3-0. - Nathaniel Stewart/Freelance Photographer

Western Bureau;

With the battle for inter-zone places in the 2006 ISSA/Pepsi/JN daCosta Cup now on in earnest, 12 teams will be seeking to improve their standing this afternoon when action resumes in the 65-team competition with six games - two in Zone I and four in Zone L, all starting at 3:30 p.m.

The games down for contention are as follows: Zone I - Garvey Maceo against Old Harbour and Vere Technical against Central; and in Zone L - Paul Bogle against Port Antonio, Fair Prospect against Yallahs, Titchfield at home to St. Thomas and Seaforth away to Happy Grove.

With runaway group leades Glenmuir, on 16 points from six games, inactive this afternoon, second place Garvey Maceo (11) will be aiming to repeat their first round win over bottom place Old Harbour (1) to strengthen their inter-zone bid. In the other game in the six-team zone, fourth place Vere Technical (7) will be aiming to improve on the first round 0-0 draw against Central to stay in touch with the front runners.

Over in the mega Zone L, which is being contested by eight teams, the action should be fast and furious as only six points separate the top five teams, which sees Titchfield and Happy Grove ahead of the pack with 19 and 16 points respectively.

While all the games bear some semblance of importance because of the closeness in the overall standings, the game between Titchfield and St. Thomas should generate most interest.

A victory for Tichfield, first round winner by a 2-0 margin, would see them moving within touching distance of the inter-zone round with 22 points. However, a St. Thomas victory would move them within three points of Titchfield.

Happy Grove, now in second place on 16 points, could join Titchfield atop the standings should they beat sixth place Seaforth (8) and Titchfield lose to St. Thomas. Based on their relatively good form, which has seen them winning five of their seven games, beating Seaforth looks a safe bet.

Fair Prospect, in joint third place with St. Thomas and Port Antonio - all on 13 points, should repeat or better their first round 2-0 win against Yallahs, which gained a mere one point from seven games. Port Antonio should do likewise against newcomer Paul Bogle, which have only managed three points from seven games.

Today's games

Zone I

Garvey Maceo vs Old Harbour

Vere Technical vs Central

Zone L

Paul Bogle vs Port Antonio

Fair Prospect vs Yallahs

Titchfield vs St.Thomas

Seaforth vs Happy Grove