The Rugby League Jamaica/Flashship Couriers national U16 high-school semifinals will take place today (Friday, March 14), at The Cedar Grove Academy. Defending champions, The Cedar Grove Academy will face Campion College at 3:00 pm, whilst at 4:00 pm, last year’s beaten finalist Calabar High School faces off with newcomers Jose Marti High. 

All four schools earned their spots with convincing quarterfinal victories on Tuesday. Cedar Grove were comfortable 22-8 winners over St Georges College, Kieron Brown leading the winners with 10 points. Derone Plummer and Jahzeel Francis each bagged 12 points to lead Calabar to a 34-0 victory over BB Coke.

 Campion College had an early battle on their hands but overcame St Catherine High 38-20, Josiah Bennett led the victors with an impressive 24-point haul. Meanwhile, newcomers Jose Marti looms as the competition dark horse with a workmanlike 24-2 win over Kingston High, Jayden Daley led the winners with 8 points. 

Commenting on the season to date, Director of Rugby Romeo Monteith said, “We are pleased with the talent on display in the u16 competition, many of these boys have only been playing rugby league in the past 1-3 years and we see they are adapting well to the rules and nature of the game. We have four evenly matched teams in the semis and it’s anyone’s guess who will be in the finals. This level of competitiveness is very good for the competition, and we wish all four teams good luck.”

The 3:00 fixture will be officiated by Tarja Richards and the 4:00 pm game will see Nickoli Christy in charge.