Adrian Frater, News Editor

Petersfield's Troy Reid (right) goes around Rusea's Oshane Martin (left) in Thursday's daCosta Cup game between the schools at the Frome Sports Ground in Westmoreland. Petersfield won 1-0 but Rusea's have advanced to the quarter-finals. - photo by adrian frater

WESTERN BUREAU:

WITH THE inter-zone round of the 2006 ISSA/Pepsi/JN daCosta Cup now completed, the race for the title, arguably the most cherished trophy in rural high school sports, is now expected to be very close as we approach the quarter-final round featuring four former champions and four teams that are seeking their first lien on the coveted cup.

In the quarter-finals, former champions Rusea's, Clarendon College and Glenmuir will compete in Group One alongside Garvey Maceo, while in Group Two, former champions Frome Technical will compete with Denbigh, Titchfield and Bog Walk, who are all seeking their first hold on the title.

Based on their impressive record, which saw their only defeat of the season coming in a 5-3 penalty shoot-out loss to Frome Technical in the Ben Francis Cup final, red-hot Clarendon College look a safe bet to top the group and secure one of the two semi-final places as they continue their quest to emulate their 1977, 1978, 1994, 1996 and 1998 teams, which all emerged daCosta Cup champions.

However, Rusea's, who were one of the dominant teams between 1984 and 2002 - winning the daCosta Cup eight times; and 2004 winners Glenmuir, who were the overwhelming favourites to win last year before they ran into eventual champions Godfrey Stewart, cannot be slighted as both appear good enough to earn at least one of the group's two semi-final places, if not win the group.

Despite their impressive preliminary-round showing, which saw them finish second in Group One behind Glenmuir; and their good inter-zone foray, which saw them cop one of the best second-place finishers' slots, Garvey Maceo are not expected to figure prominently among the former champions. However, because of the unpredictable nature of football, they cannot be written off.

Frome gunning for a double

In Group Two, Ben Francis Cup champions Frome Technical, who are gunning for the rural double - Ben Francis and daCosta Cup - should dominate as they seek to add another daCosta Cup title to their 2003 success. Having tasted just one defeat this season - a 2-0 preliminary round loss to Rusea's - the Frome team looks a fairly good bet to top this group.

With a chance to join the elites of rural schoolboy football, the Titchfield team, which has made two unsuccessful trips to the daCosta Cup finals; and Denbigh and Bog Walk, who are both seeking to move into uncharted waters, will be hoping that the form that has taken them to their current position will be good enough to take them into at least the last four.

Based on the performances of the teams to date, Rusea's, Clarendon College, Frome and Titchfield should enter tomorrow's first round of quarter-final games as the favourites to advance to the semi-finals.