Defending zonal and national InterCol champions St Anthony’s College and long-time rival St Mary’s College will renew their rivalry when both teams meet in the Battle of the Saints for a spot in the North Zone Coca-Cola InterCol final, in the second match of a double-header at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, today from 5 pm.
Two hours earlier, Diego Martin North Secondary and Trinity College will meet. The winners of today’s semifinal will meet in the zonal final, at the same venue, next Thursday for a spot in the national playoffs.
The clash between St Anthony’s, dubbed the “Westmooring Tigers” and the “Saints” comes just two days after both teams won comfortably in quarterfinal action.
The “Tigers” faced newly-promoted Malick Secondary, and emerged a 2–0 winner courtesy a double from the team’s skipper Jamali Garcia. St Mary’s too, won its match via a 2–0 scoreline, albeit with late goals from Sebastien Cabral and Jamiel Williams.
The two teams, known for their fantastic fan support and rivalry, are expected to produce an electric atmosphere, as they meet for the third time this season with St Mary’s failing to secure a win in the previous meetings St Anthony’s won the first leg 3–0 away, before winning 2–1 at home and will be fancied to advance to yet another zonal final.
The Nigel Grosvenor-coached “Tigers” will also have good memories of their last encounter with “Saints” at today’s venue having won 1–0 in the zonal InterCol final last year when both teams faced off. The other finalist will be determined between Diego North and Trinity, which finished the league campaign in second-to-last and last place, respectively.
Six days ago, Diego and Trinity secured respective victories over Fatima College and East Mucurapo Secondary. In their league meetings this season, league debutants, Diego Martin North emerged with a 1–0 victory while Trinity claimed a 2–1 win, to epitomise the unpredictability of the country’s prestigious schools’ football knockout competition.
The semifinals today will play simultaneously with the final round of quarterfinal round of matches to be contested in the South Zone. From 3 pm and 5 pm, a double-header will be played at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella, opening with runaway league champion Presentation College of San Fernando’s clash with newly promoted Mayaro Secondary.
Presentation, which will welcome the return of national under-20 striker Shackiel Henry, will start as favourites while the second match featuring St Benedict’s College and Princes Town Secondary is too tricky to call. In their first round league meeting, the match ended 1–1 while St Benedict’s won 4–1 away in the second round and enters today match as slight favourites.
The winners of today’s south quarterfinal advance to a showdown in Friday’s second semifinal at the same venue, from 5 pm. The first semifinal features Shiva Boys and Pleasantville from 3 pm.
Today’s InterCol Games
North Zone semifinal
Venue: Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo
Diego Martin North vs Trinity, 3 pm
St Anthony’s vs St Mary’s, 5 pm
South Zone quarterfinal
Venue: Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella
Presentation vs Mayaro, 3 pm
St Benedict’s vs Princes Town, 5 pm
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