Stuttering champs take on rising Waterhouse

Attention in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) will all be turned to the Drewsland Stadium this evening when high-flying Waterhouse take on defending champions Cavalier at 6 p.m.

In other matches, Arnett entertain Harbour View at the Anthony Spaulding Complex at 7 p.m., Chapelton host Montego Bay United at Turner’s Oval, Racing play Tivoli at the Ferdi Neita Park, while Dunbeholden go up against Molynes at Dunbeholden Sports Complex. All starting at 3:30 p.m.

Only one point and one place separate the teams in the table, with Waterhouse sitting highest in fifth on 43 points.

Waterhouse, with seven wins in their last nine, are the league’s hottest team and will start favourites against the champions, who have been having an indifferent campaign.

The game will also mark the return of Marcel Gayle to Drewsland. However, this time he will be on the Cavalier bench, after the veteran tactician was summoned by Rudolph Speid to take charge of the team while he concentrates on the nation’s World Cup play-offs next week.

The Cavalier team have been running into some form of late, with four wins on the trot, and should fancy themselves getting something from the game.

At the other end of the table, Molynes will be looking to create more of a gap between themselves and the relegation zone, when they tackle Dunbeholden.

Dunbeholden have lost their last three matches and are 10th in the standings on 32 points. Although new coach Bjorn Thomas is yet to taste a win, he is looking to steady the ship one match at a time

“We are taking it one game at a time. We have a few new youngsters in the squad and I don’t want to put any added pressure on them. We have set some goals but we are taking it one game at a time,” he said.

“This is the third game in the round and we are looking to give a good account of ourselves. We want to separate ourselves and show what we can do.”

Molynes are 12th in the table on 25 points, one more than second-to-last Harbour View. Molynes coach Jermaine Thomas said he expected teams to start picking up points in this round, and that they must do the same.

“Eleven games to go. Teams are going to pick up points. So it’s imperative that, when you play, you pick up points as well.

“We were expecting that, at some point, Harbour View would have started to garner some results, but we are not going to get too flustered. The important thing is to remain positive and improve the weaknesses as much as possible and get results when we ought to,” he said.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

Today’s Games

Waterhouse vs Cavalier at Drewsland – 6 p.m.

Arnett vs Harbour View at Anthony Spaulding Complex - 7 p.m.

Chapelton vs MoBay at Turner’s Oval – 3:30 p.m.

Racing vs Tivoli at Ferdi Neita Park – 3:30 p.m.

Dunbeholden vs Molynes at Dunbeholden Sports Complex – 3:30 p.m.