Walker Cup heats up as 14 teams advance; big clashes set for Tuesday

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The opening round of the 2026 Inter- secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) urban Walker Cup delivered its share of goals and surprises on Saturday, with several of Jamaica’s leading schoolboy football teams advancing to the Round of 16. Among the biggest winners were defending Manning Cup champions Excelsior High, who crushed Kingston Technical 7-0, led by a hat-trick from Habbie Mohammed. Rivaldo Murray scored twice, while Ricardo Clue and Nicwayne Patrick added the other goals. Defending champions St Catherine High, Campion College, Kingston College (KC) and St George’s College also secured their places in the next round. St Catherine began their title defence with a 1-0 victory over Ascot High, Campion College hit seven past Clan Carthy High and KC dismissed St Mary's College 3-0 after being held goalless in the first held where they missed at least six easy goals. Next door on North Street, St George's College thwarted the challenge of Camperdown High winning 5-4 on penalties after playing to a 1-1 draw There were two major upsets. Home team Tivoli Gardens were eliminated by Edith Dalton James High 7-6 on penalties while Jose Marti High defeated Waterford High 5-3 on penalties. Charlie Smith High turned back Holy Trinity 3-1 and Vauxhall High continued its impressive rise with a 2-0 victory over Norman Manley High. Mona High blanked Bridgeport High 5-0 and Eltham High defeated Papine High 4-1. STATHS also enjoyed a comfortable afternoon, beating Jonathan Grant High 5-0, while Wolmer’s Boys defeated Hillel Academy 4-1. Calabar High and Jamaica College received byes after their scheduled opponents withdrew. Meanwhile, there will be some intriguing match-ups on Tuesday in the Round of 16 with a place in the quarter-finals at stake. Arch rivals KC and Calabar High face off at Stadium East field. Charlie Smith High will host Vauxhall High and Eltham High will entertain Campion College. St Catherine High will host Wolmer’s Boys and Jamaica College tackle St George’s College in an all-traditional-school showdown. Tuesday's Round-of-16 fixtures

• Charlie Smith High vs Vauxhall High — Charlie Smith, 3:00 pm.
• Eltham High vs Campion College — Eltham, 3:00 pm.
• St Catherine High vs Wolmer’s Boys — St Catherine, 3:00 pm.
• Kingston College vs Calabar High — Stadium East, 3:00 pm.
• Jamaica College vs St George’s College — Jamaica College, 3:00 pm.

The remaining Round-of-16 matches will be played later in the week, with STATHS facing the winner of the St Jago High/ Penwood High game on Wednesday, while Excelsior High meet Waterford High and Mona High face Edith Dalton James High on Thursday.