Paul Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Western Bureau:The real contenders are beginning to set themselves apart from the rest of the pack, as the ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel daCosta Cup rolls along with another exciting round of games today.

One such is the Lennon High, Clarendon College clash, which pits first place against second in a battle for control of Zone H.

The Anthony Patrick-coached Clarendon College are a point adrift of Lennon entering the game on 13, Lennon has 14. But Clarendon have a game in hand.

That aside, coach Patrick expects a rugged encounter when the game gets under way.

"I am expecting a very, very tough game against them. They are a good team but we have also good players who can get the job done for us," he said.

no room for error

With the margin of error so slim, neither school can afford to ease off the pedal with a coveted spot in the Ben Francis KO at stake.

For Clarendon College, moving to the top of the zone is key to their success. They have not won the daCosta Cup since 1998, so passing tests such as the one that will be posed by Lennon today could determine how far into the competition they will go.

Meanwhile, fresh off their 3-0 victory over Herbert Morrison High, the defending champions Rusea's High must feel confident ahead of their clash against Zone B rivals Frome Technical, having dismantled the said opposition in Savanna-la-Mar in their first meeting in the competition 3-1.

Today's matches

Zone A

Cornwall College vs Green Pond

Zone B

Herbert Morrison vs Green Island

Rusea's vs Frome

Zone C

William Knibb vs Hopewell

Spot Valley vs Muschett

Zone D

Mannings vs Godfrey Stewart

Little London vs Petersfield

Zone E

Black River vs Balaclava

Maggotty vs Lacovia

Munro vs STETHS

Zone F

Cross Keys vs Bellefield

Mile Gully vs BB Coke

Zone G

Knox vs Christiana

Spalding vs Alston

Holmwood vs DeCarteret

Zone H

Claude McKay vs Edwin Allen

Lennon vs Clarendon College

Zone I

Albert Town vs Browns Town

Cedric Titus vs York Castle

Marcus Garvey vs Ocho Rios

Zone J

Islington vs Brimmervale

St Mary High vs Iona

St Mary Tech vs Oracabessa

Zone K

Charlemont vs Bog Walk

Tacky vs Dinthill

Ewarton vs McGrath

Zone L

Fair Prospect vs Buff Bay

Titchfield vs Port Antonio

Zone M

Glenmuir vs Denbigh

Garvey Maceo vs Foga Road

Porus vs Bustamante

Zone N

Old Harbour vs Tacius Golding

Vere vs Kemps Hill

Zone O

Yallahs vs Seaforth

Paul Bogle vs St Thomas Technical

Morant Bay vs Robert Lightbourne