National Under-20 representative Andrew Lewis netted a hat-trick as defending champions St George's College whipped Cumberland High 7-1 in their Group C encounter of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports (ISSA)/Gatorade/Digicel Manning Cup match at Winchester Park yesterday.

Lewis, who scored in the sixth and 45th minutes to help his team to a 4-1 half-time lead, completed his hat-trick when he beat the goalkeeper, Dwight Scott, from close range in the 77th minute. Mark Brown (eighth), Zhelano Barnes (11th) and Cardel Benbow (63rd) were the other scorers for St George's.

Captain Kenrick Francis netted the lone goal for the St Catherine-based Cumberland from the penalty spot in the 26th minute.

In the group's other game, Hydel thrashed Clan Carthy 7-0.

happy with performance

Neville 'Bertis' Bell, coach of St George's, was happy with his team's performance. "We wanted to win and we got the three points and we are very happy about that," said Bell.

He added: "I thought we moved the ball very well. There were too many chances in the first half that we didn't finish - that is a bit of a concern - but we are happy with the victory."

St George's dominated the match from the opening whistle and they played some wonderful football. The Georgians were rewarded in the sixth minute when Lewis collected a through pass from Brown inside the penalty box and calmly slotted home past goalkeeper Scott.

Brown doubled St George's lead two minutes later, when he fired home a powerful right-footed shot past Scott, who was well beaten at his near post.

Barnes, who made the switch to St George's from Excelsior at the start of the season, netted the champions' third goal when he dribbled past two defenders inside the area to fire home from close range.

Group B

Jamaica College 2 Waterford 0

Camperdown 1 St Jago 1

Group C

Hydel 7 Clan Carthy 0

St George's College 7 Cumberland 1

Denham Town 3 Dunoon 0

Group E

St Catherine 1 Trench Town 0

Jonathan Grant 1 Spanish Town 1