Western Bureau:

Four semi-final places will be up for grabs this afternoon when the four first round group winners and the four teams that drew first round byes lock horns in the quarter-finals of the 2008 Ben Francis Knock Out, the second of the two major rural schoolboy football competitions. All games are set to begin at 3:30 p.m.

The games are as follows: Zone J kingpins Dinthill Technical against Zone L's champion Paul Bogle High, Zone I winner Old Harbour against Zone H's Lennon High, Zone E big guns Lacovia High against former champions and Zone B champions Rusea's High and Zone C's Godfrey Stewart against Zone A kingpins St James High.

While all the games hold equal significance, in terms of history and tradition, the game at St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) between Rusea's, one of the most decorated teams in the annals of local schoolboy football, and Lacovia, who have come of age this year, will perhaps be the most keenly watched.

In topping Zone B of the daCosta Cup, Rusea's were quite ruthless, winning 11 games and drawing one while chalking 36 goals and conceding a mere three. Lacovia, who went unbeaten in Zone E and tagged Manchester High 2-0 in their first round Ben Francis fixture, look a bonafide contender.

Sternest test

With the distinction of upstaging the likes of Garvey Maceo and Glenmuir High for Zone I honours, the Linval Dixon-coached Old Harbour should see its sternest test of the season when they open their Ben Francis campaign against Lennon who impressed in their first-round 3-0 win against Spalding High.

In topping Zone I, where they had victories over both former champions Garvey Maceo and Glenmuir, unbeaten Old Harbour recorded seven wins and three draws, scoring 18 goals and conceding three. For their part, Lennon, who are also unbeaten, notched eight wins and two draws while scoring a whopping 31 goals and conceding four.

Unbeaten St James High, fresh from their come from behind 2-1 win against Marcus Garvey and their Zone A daCosta Cup exploits, which saw them winning 10 games and drawing two, should be in for testing times against Zone C champions Godfrey Stewart, who completed their preliminary fixtures with six wins and two draws from eight games.

While it could be argued that the Patrick Graham-coached Godfrey Stewart have not been properly tested, as they played in what was considered a weak zone. They are yet to concede a goal, albeit scoring only a mere nine. St James High are fast becoming a fancied team this year and their goalscoring exploits, 38 in 13 games, cannot be ignored.

Plan to clear hurdles

"We see each game as a hurdle and our plan is to clear every single one of these hurdles," said Pastor Hugh Solomon, coach of St James High, who will be without top striker Allan Ottey, who was red carded in the game against Marcus Garvey.

The clash between Zone J champions Dinthill, one of the teams that drew a first-round bye and Zone L powerhouse Paul Bogle, could go either way as both teams are sporting decent records.

Dinthill's season record of seven wins, one draw and two defeats would suggest some amount of vulnerability but, like them, Paul Bogle also lost twice in their daCosta Cup preliminary campaign.

Fresh from their first round 2-0 win against St Mary Technical, Paul Bogle should be reasonably confident, having progressed this far in all competitions, Dinthill should be gunning to give as good as they get.

TODAY'S GAMES

Dinthill vs Paul Bogle at Dinthill

Old Harbour vs Lennon at Jamalco Sports Club

Rusea's High vs Lacovia at STETHS

Godfrey Stewart vs St James High at Jarrett Park