Reigning national InterCol champs Naparima started their title defence in fine style yesterday with a big 3-0 win over North champs Queen's Royal College at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo.
Naparima, which has not had the best of season this year after they surrendered both the league and knockout titles to Presentation, came out with a lot of purpose and controlled most of the first half.
This early pressure paid of as the Southerners got their opening goal in the 17th minute when Shahdon Winchester, who was recently selected for the national senior team, ran onto a ball and placed it just out of the reach of goalkeeper Kareem Joseph.
In the 28th minute, the lead was doubled when Andre Matthews collected a ball down the left flank.
He evaded a challenge from a defender in the box and placed the ball into the net, leaving Joseph as a spectator.
The Royalians did create some chances but were unable to make anything out of them.
In the 31st minute the defending champs custodian O'Shae Noel was forced to make a sliding save to keep out an effort from Akil Morris.
Duane Muckette, who has been one of the stars of QRC's season, continued his impressive display of skills when he made a few runs of his own.
However, the 14-year-old was unable to come up with any goals. At the end of the first half the scoreline remained 2-0 in favour of Naps.
The North Intercol champs which came back from two goals down against St Anthony's in the zone's semifinal, tried to duplicate the effort, as they started the second half on the goal hunt.
Chances where again created but it was not to be QRC's day.
Things got worst for the Royalians in the 59th minute when head coach Keith Eddy was sent to the stands by referee Julian Drayton for protesting a call.
Adding insult to injury Dwayne Edwards increased the Naps lead in the 61st minute from the penalty spot, after Ryan Frederick was adjudged to have been brought down in the box.
Muckette tried desperately but he was unable to bail out his team this trip.
Saints maul Mason Hall 6-1
Inspired by a pair of goals each from Dillon Kirton, Renaldo Garcia and Chad Appoo, St Mary's swamped Mason Hall 6-1 in the first game of the double header at the venue.
The first half ended 4-0 with Appoo scoring the opening goal in the 18th minute, running on to a past and slipping it wide from the advancing goalkeeper Keshon Davidson, who had an outstanding season leading Mason Hall to both titles in the Tobago Zone.
Kirton followed up with a quick-fire double, the first a header in 20th minute, and the second two minutes later, slotting into an open goal.
In the 33rd minute, Garcia got on the scoresheet after the ball rebounded off Davidson from an Akil Noel shot. He was on spot to tap home.
Appoo made it 5-0 in the 59th minute, after being left along and putting a neat placement past Davidson.
Mason Hall's striker Brandon Joseph was brought down in the box in the 74th minute. The resulting penalty was scored by captain Omari Charles.
Four minutes later, Garcia took advantage of a defence error and slipped the ball into an open net, after the keeper and Charles had some miscommunication.
St Mary's, the North Zone runners-up, will now play the winner of Presentation (South champion) and El Dorado (East runners-up) - a match that will be played today at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, from 4 pm.
While Naps will now play the winner of the East Intercol champs St Augustine and the Central champs Carapichaima encounter which will take place on Thursday at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, Arima.
InterCol Result
NAPARIMA 3 (Shahdon Winchester 17th, Andre Matthew 28th, Dwayne Edwards (Pen) 61st) vs QUEEN'S ROYAL COLLEGE 0.
St Mary's 6 (Dillon Kirton 20th, 22nd, Renaldo Garcia 33rd, 78th and Chad Appoo 18th 59th) vs Mason Hall 1 (Omari Charles 74th)
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