Excelsior, Tivoli in decisive round-of-16 clash
Published:Tuesday | December 2, 2025 | 12:07 AMGregory Bryce/Staff Reporter
EXCELSIOR HIGH School and Tivoli Gardens High will go head-to-head today in a decisive clash for a spot in the final eight of the ISSA/WATA Manning Cup at the Excelsior High School in Group 1 action.
Two spots for the Manning Cup quarter-finals will be decided as the final round of matches in Group 1 and Group 3 of the round of 16 get under way.
With St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) and Charlie Smith High already confirmed to advance from groups 1 and 3, respectively, the remaining two spots are still up for grabs.
In Group 1, Excelsior and Tivoli, both on three points, are still in contention.
Wolmer’s Boys’, rooted at the foot of the table without a point, cannot advance and will play in the Walker Cup knockout competition. Wolmer’s will host STATHS.
Excelsior will need to avoid defeat if they are to advance, as the boys from the Mountain View Avenue-based institution hold the advantage with a better goal difference.
Excelsior are coming off a narrow 1-0 defeat to group leaders STATHS.
Tivoli, on the other hand, recovered from a similar 1-0 defeat to STATHS to sink 10-man Wolmer’s 2-0 on their last outing.
Teams failing to advance to the quarter-finals of the Manning Cup will have another shot at claiming a schoolboy title this season, as they will instead contest the first round of the Walker Cup.
In Group 3, fast-rising Vauxhall High, under the guidance of head coach Kyle Butler, are hunting a spot in the quarter-finals.
Vauxhall, who have never won a schoolboy title in the school’s history, have become an emerging force this season and could book a spot in the final eight with a win or a draw against group leaders Charlie Smith.
They sit second in the group with four points, behind Charlie Smith with six.
St Catherine High School, who are also in contention for a quarter-final spot, sit third in the group on one point, while St George’s College (StGC) sit at the foot of the table without a point.
For St Catherine to advance, they will need a statement win against StGC, and hope Charlie Smith defeat Vauxhall in their match.
St Catherine would also need a strong goal difference to buoy their chances of moving to the next round, as they would only be able to draw level with Vauxhall on points.
St Catherine, bearing the name of their parish, are led by veteran head coach Anthony Patrick, and made it to the final of the Manning Cup for the very first time last year.
They are hoping to go one step further this time around, but those plans were put in jeopardy when they were defeated 4-1 by Charlie Smith in their last outing.
With their season on the line, St Catherine are hoping they can pull off the improbable when they take on StGC at Spanish Town Prison Oval.
All games are scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m.
TODAY’S MATCHES
Wolmer’s vs STATHS at Calabar
Excelsior vs Tivoli at Excelsior
Vauxhall vs Charlie Smith at StGC
St Catherine vs StGC at Prison Oval
All games are scheduled to start at 3 p.m.