Robert Bailey, Freelance Writer

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Munro College will oppose Papine in today's feature semi-final of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Jamaica Hockey Federation (JHF) boys' Under-19 competition at the Mona hockey playingfield starting at 2:30 p.m.

In the other semi, Jamaica College (JC) face Wolmer's at 4:30 p.m.

Munro topped Zone A with 10 points - three more than second-placed Wolmer's.

"We are not going to take anything lightly," Munro coach Fitzroy Rowe said.

"We played against them in the finals last year and judging from that performance and the ability of their coach, we consider them a formidable opponent," Rose said of Papine.

"We have eight players from last year, including the MVP O'Shane Hasely and the leading goalscorer Gerren Rowe. We will be going all out against them," he said.

Meanwhile, Papine finished runners-up in Zone B with nine points - three behind winners JC. Andrea Hoo, coach of Papine, said she was confident about her team's chances against Munro.

Confident

"I am confident enough of a win, but there are a lot of inexperienced players in my team," Hoo said. "Regardless of this, I am confident that we can win this semi-final match-up and go through to the final."

"I basically have six players who are in the national Under-21 squad and I am hoping that these players will come out and show their leadership qualities to balance our team so we can be successful."

Papine will relying heavily on the likes of striker Charles Burton, midfielder Orane Reid and defender Julian Lumsden, all of whom have played an integral part in their team's success so far this season.