Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

George Forbes, ISSA's competition's officer (left), hands over the Grace Shield to Eltham players after the final against St Catherine at Chedwin Park yesterday. Eltham won their fourth straight title by an innings and five runs. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

ELTHAM HIGH defeated St Catherine High by an innings and five runs yesterday to secure their fourth hold on the Grace Shield Premier League, the symbol of Urban Area schoolboy cricket supremacy.

In doing so, Eltham became the first school to win four consecutive Grace Shield titles since it replaced the Sunlight Cup in 2001. Eltham also joined a small list of schools to have won four straight schoolboy cricket titles.

Resuming at 186 for six, Eltham, replying to St Catherine's 81, were dismissed for 217 in the morning session.

Sheldon Wilson, who had started the day with 2-26, picked up all four wickets to end with 6-33. Shane Harris added three to his tally to be dismissed for 21.

Faced with a deficit of 136, St Catherine produced a better batting display but Frederick Hermit was too much for their batsmen as he picked up 5-32. Romeo Parker supported him well with 2-29.

Ricardo Williams, 46, top scored for the St John's Road-based school.

Happy man

The victory left Eltham's coach, Oral Simpson, a happy man.

"I am elated and I am very happy for the boys," was how Simpson described his feelings.

However, he said the success did not come easy.

"We have worked extremely hard this season but we were always on the path of winning our fourth title," he said.

"The boys came to the fore and I must praise my senior players, especially Frederick Hermit, the captain, and all the other players, the twin brothers - Shawn and Shane Harris and Romeo Duncan.

"We never thought it would have been this easy because we knew we were up against a quality team but, honestly, we just outplayed them in all departments of the game.

"I am very happy for the boys and the school population in general," he concluded, while awaiting his fourth consecutive all-island showdown against the rural champions.

As expected, St Catherine's coach, Stanford Hudson, was disappointed.

"Not what we had hoped for. Very disappointing, but we take heart to know we got this far," Hudson said.

"It's one of those things about life, not just in sports, but in all aspect of life ... sometimes you are up, some-times you are down. Today, though we were down, it's not the end of us," he said.