No referees! Crucial Group 'C' Manning Cup games postponed

A mix up in communication between the Inter Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) and the St Catherine Referees Association caused two crucial Group ‘C’ matches in the ISSA FLOW Manning Cup to be postponed on Monday afternoon.

Innswood, needing just a draw to top the group, were to have taken on Denham Town at Chedwin Park while St George’s College needing to win to have any chance of securing group honours, were set to battle hosts Eltham.

However, no referee turned up for the Innswood/Denham town game, while the referees were late for the other. ISSA’s Competitions Director George Forbes sought to explain the reason.

“We had postponed some matches because of disciplinary matters and somehow the St Catherine referees did not make any appointments for these games when they were making the appointments; Innswood versus Denham Town and Eltham St George’s. In the interest of fair play we wanted to start both games at the same time so that no team could know what other teams needed to do to go through,” said Forbes. The matches will now be contested on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Group ‘B’ leaders Hydel have been penalised by ISSA because of a lack of security for their game against Haile Selassie last Thursday. Haile Selassie have been given the game by a 3-0 margin.

Hydel still lead the group on 22 points ahead of Tuesday's fixture against Dunoon. 

Haile Selassie are still second but now on 19 points, securing their place in the Manning Cup second round ahead of their last match at Papine.

In other disciplinary action, Spanish Town High have been docked all seven points gained for using an ineligible player.

Several members of their staff have received lengthy bans from ISSA as well.