Vere Technical, led by pacer Froundo Black, defeated Glenmuir High by 167 runs to capture the inaugural Clarendon Cricket Association (CCA) pre-season high schools competition, which was held at Bushy Park, Clarendon, on Wednesday.

Black, a standout during the six-team three-week event, took 6-6, as Glenmuir, responding to Vere's respectable 211-8 off their allotted 30 overs, were bowled out for 44 in 10.1 overs, giving Vere there first cricket title in years.

Vere, who for the past eight Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Asso-ciation/Grace Headley Cup seasons advanced to the semi-finals seven times but failed to make it to the final, took home the Williams/Dennis award which is named in honour of former Jamaica representatives, all-rounder Laurie Williams and pacer Kenneth Dennis.

The two hailed from the parish and perished tragically in motor vehicle accidents. Williams attended Garvey Maceo, while Dennis was a past student of Clarendon College.

Preparation for players

"After going up to the top so many times and not win a trophy, it's like anything you get you take," said Vere coach Dewith Coleman. "We won the game but were expecting a more competitive final.

"When we batted, we started slowly, but in the end we had a respectable total. The fast bowlers then went out there and bowled. I wish other parish assoications would do likewise as the CCA, led by Frtiz Harris, as this would prepare the teams and players well heading into respective Headley Cup and Grace Shield competitions," added Coleman, who is also a Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) A1 umpire.

Vere, in addition to their Headley Cup failures, last season lost the ISSA Grace rural area knockout final to Holmwood Technical and, in 2000, lost the all-island Under-16 Championship to urban area challengers Eltham High.

In Wedneday's encounter, Black received valuable support from Shamier Senior, who claimed 2 for 6 and Gifton Wray, who snared 2 for 32.

Glenmuir's captain O'Shane Beaumont, 19, topscored for the boys from central Clarendon.

Earlier, Vere after at one stage being 4-5, rallied through Wray, 70, and Gareth Brown, 24, to post their total.

Oren Holness and Owen Francis contributed 26 and 35, respectively.