Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

THE TWO slots in this Saturday's final will be at stake this afternoon when the Ben Francis Cup Knockout competition moves into its semi-final phase with Frome Technical meeting Petersfield at the Frome Sports Ground in Westmoreland and Clarendon College facing Titchfield at Brancourt in Clarendon.

If one was to judge the four teams on the basis of their performances in last Saturday's quarter-final games, spectators should be in for a special treat at both venues as all the teams appear to be in fine fettle and high on confidence. Based on the emphatic manner in which they dismissed their respective opponents in last Saturday's quarter-finals, an epic clash is anticipated between Clarendon College, who brushed aside dethroned champions Glenmuir 3-0, and Titchfield, who had the same margin of victory against Charlemont. Clarendon College, who completed their preliminary fixture in Zone H of the daCosta Cup unbeaten, winning seven games and drawing one, appears to be in cracking good form and, having disposed of the much-respected Glenmuir in such an emphatic manner, they should prove quite hard to beat.

While Clarendon College's strength has been their ability to function well as a cohesive unit, coach Garfield Robinson will no doubt be expecting something special from Carl Bryant, Gregory Lewis and Andel Calman, the goalscorers against Glenmuir.

Bubbling with confidence

Having survived the rigours of the tough megazone 'L' of the daCosta Cup and then dismissing the challenge of the seemingly worthwhile Charlemont in their lone Ben Francis KO game, the Titchfield camp is bubbling with confidence and, according to coach Andrew Edwards, they are ready for the challenge.

"We played Clarendon College in a pre-season game and while we lost that game, we are confident that we have improved enough to get the better of them this time around," said Edwards. "We are quite confident of winning this game." The all-Westmoreland showdown between Frome Technical and Petersfield promises wholesale excitement as in addition to being from the same parish, most of the players came to the fore through the same parish youth programme and they are familiar with each other.

Prior to their Ben Francis KO first round 4-3 victory against DeCarteret, Frome were considered as arguably the hottest schoolboy team in rural Jamaica. However, that game showed up some weaknesses which Petersfield will be hoping to exploit.

With capable players such as the wily Obrian Woodbine, Keswick Samuels, Sidane McCreath and Kevon Wynter leading his attack, Frome's coach, Boysie Nicholson, has repeatedly stated that he thinks he has an offence capable of taming any schoolboy defence. However, after beating both dethroned daCosta Cup champions Godfrey Stewart and Mannings in topping Zone C of the daCosta Cup preliminary round and then getting by both Ocho Rios and William Knibb in the Ben Francis KO, Petersfield's coach Audley 'Tom Tom' Thomas is brimming with confidence.

"I think I have the team to go all the way," said Thomas, whose unit features quality players such as Troy Reid, Corey Rodriques and the skilful Dennis Thomas. "We are ready to win a title or two this season."