Rusea's win bloody battle in Montego Bay

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Spaldings 2 Bellefield 1

St. James 0 Rusea's 4

STETHS 0 Clarendon College 1

Fair Prospect 1 Glenmuir 1

Frome 1 Cornwall College 3

Lennon 1 Munro 4

Holmwood 1 Manchester 2

St. Thomas Tech. 1 Garvey Maceo 1

WESTERN BUREAU:

VIOLENCE MARRED yesterday's final round of the inter-zone phase of the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup when a stoppage time brawl in the Rusea's and St. James High game at Jarrett Park prevented Rusea's, who had a 4-0 lead, from taking a penalty awarded to them.

After the penalty was signalled and a St. James High defender ejected for his violent tackle, all hell broke loose as the angry St. James High players attacked their Rusea's counterparts, raining kicks and punches with impunity, forcing the intervention of the police.

With disorder reigning supreme, the St. James players were escorted from the playing area by the police and subsequently whisked out of the venue in their team bus. Several Rusea's players were left with bloody noses and mouths.

"The game was basically finished as we were into stoppage time," said referee Kevin Morris. "I was just waiting to have the penalty taken to blow the final whistle, but that was not to be because of the fighting,"

Automatic qualifier

By virtue of their win, the Rusea's team, which scored through Andr? Atkinson, Roydell Moncrieffe, Godfrey Cunningham and Damain Thompson (penalty), topped Group Two with seven points, which was enough to make them an automatic qualifier for the quarter-final.

Rusea's were joined yesterday in the quarter-finals by defending champions Glenmuir, who won Group Six on goal-difference following their 1-1 draw which Fair Prospect, who also advanced by virtue of finishing as one of the two best second-place finishers.

Ben Francis KO champions Garvey Maceo took top honours in Group Five with a 1-1 against St. Thomas Technical.