Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

WHILE SOME teams will have to wait until tomorrow's rescheduled games to know their fate, several booked their places in both the inter-zone round of the ISSA/ Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup and the Ben Francis Knockout yesterday.

Among the teams that slipped into the inter-zone phase were Frome Technical, who clipped Merlene Ottey 2-1 to join Rusea's as the Zone B qualifiers, and Petersfield from Zone C, who advanced ahead of 2005 champion Godfrey Stewart by virtue of their 4-0 whipping of Little London.

In arguably the surprise result of the day, Godfrey Stewart, whose coach Carl Palmer resigned after the game, went down 2-0 to former zone Cinderella side Maud McLeod.

In regards to the qualifiers for the Ben Francis Knockout - a privilege reserved for the respective zone winners, the qualifiers include Grange Hill, who qualified for their first ever Ben Francis when they secured group honours with a 3-0 win over Manning's, which took them to 24 points and Cornwall College, who defeated St. James High 3-1 to move to an unassailable 24 points.

inter-zone aspirations

The defeat for St. James High (16) has complicated their inter-zone aspirations as Irwin (11), who drew 0-0 with Anchovy and have several outstanding games, are back in the mix and have a good chance of joining Cornwall College in the inter-zone round.

Grange Hill, who completed the fixture undefeated with seven wins and three draws, got their goals through Eldine Elliott, in the 33rd minute; and Rayon Gayle, who scored in the 79th and 83rd minutes of play.

"I am extremely pleased with the performance of my team and it justifies my faith in these players," said Grange Hill's coach, Dane Warren.

inter-zone round

"We are confident and ready and looking forward to doing well in the inter-zone round," he said.

Over in Zone I, champions Glemuir and zone leaders Garvey Maceo both kept their Ben Francis hopes alive with impressive wins, which leaves tomorrow's rescheduled games to decide which of them will go forward as group winners.

Garvey Maceo peppered Central 5-1 to move up to 23 points while Glenmuir knocked off Tacius Golding to move up to 22.

In Zone D, qualifiers Cedric Titus and Ocho Rios, who are locked on 22 points each following 6-0 and 1-0 wins over Aabutnott Galimore and York Castle, will have to wait on tomorrow's outcomes to see which of them will win the group.

yesterday's results

Zone A: Cornwall 3 St. James 1, Irwin 0 Anchovy 0.

Zone B: Rusea's 5 Knockalva 0, Merlene Ottey 1 Frome 2.

Zone C: Petersfield 4 Little London 0, Maud McLeod 2 Godfrey Stewart 0, Grange Hill 3 Mannings 0.

Zone D: York Castle 0 Ocho Rios 1, Cedric Titus 6 A. Gallimore 0.

Zone E: STETHS 2 Black River 0.

Zone I: Garvey Maceo 5 Central 1, Tacius Golding 1 Glenmuir 6.