Howard Walker, Staff Reporter

Former champion Excelsior tackle Jonathan Grant at 1:00 p.m. before Camperdown take on Bridgeport at 3: 00 p.m., as the second round of the ISSA/Pepsi/JN Manning Cup continues today at the Stadium East field.

Excelsior, back-to back winners in 2003 and 2004, are expected to get the better of a Jonathan Grant team in unfamiliar waters.

Start with a bang

The Leebert Halliman-coached boys from Mountain View Avenue topped Group A ahead of Waterford before losing to Eltham High in the Walker Cup quarter-final 1-2.

But with Eltham going on to defeat Calabar and Jamaica College (JC) in the semi-final and final, respectively, Excelsior should feel confident of starting the second round with a win.

Olanzo Adlam, Akeim Nelson, Jermain Parris, Omar Reid, Ricardo Scott and Carl Richards should ensure that Excelsior start with a bang.

Jonathan Grant finished second in Group C behind Charlie Smith in what was considered a weak group that included Innswood, Kingston Technical and St. Catherine High.

However, the Alexander Parks-coached boys from Spanish Town have some talented players and cannot be taken lightly.

They lost 0-3 to Charlie Smith in the first round before drawing 1-1 in their second encounter and based on that form, should provide Excelsior with a decent challenge.

The likes of Andre Campbell, Orlando Stewart, Kenardo Foster, Chevaughn Oneil and Rayon Carr should test the mettle of Excelsior.

INTRIGUING CLASH

The feature encounter sets up an intriguing clash between two former champions in Camperdown and Bridgeport.

Bridgeport, winners in 2001, toppled Wolmer's and Kingston College on their way to top spot in Group F.

The Anthony Patrick-coached boys from Portmore possess some talented players in Kenardo Forbes, who represents Wray and Nephew National Premier League team Naggo Head, Theolopheus Samuels, Andre Steele and Adrian King, and are capable of beating any schoolboy team on any given day.

However, they are plagued with inconsistency, which saw them being edged 3-2 by Charlie Smith in the Walker Cup competition.

The second round is said to be the round where real football is played and Bridgeport might just be waiting to explode.

Stern test

Camperdown, after missing out last season, came back with a bang to finish second in Group D to Eltham High and should provide Bridgeport with a stern test.

The Barrington Gaynor-coached boys from east Kingston lost 0-3 to Eltham and drew 1-1 in their second meeting and a lot will depend on the fortunes of John Ross Edwards, Paul Patterson, Joel Williams, Vernal Smart and Andre Murray to give them a good start.

Today's matches

Jonathan Grant vs Excelsior - Stadium East@ 1:00 p.m.

Camperdown vs Bridgeport - Stadium East@ 3:00 p.m.