Western Bureau:

St Thomas Technical High School, which emerged the best of the eastern Jamaica teams last season, started their 2009 ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup campaign on a winning note yesterday afternoon when they spanked Yallahs 5-0 in their Zone L (B) game at Yallahs, St Thomas.

In a dominant performance, the St Thomas team scored through Frederick Thompson (2), Micardo Williams, Ottardo Gregory and Jovan Robinson.

"We got off to a sluggish start but once we settled, the goals began to flow," said St Thomas' manager Jomo McKoy. "We are very pleased with this result."

Seaforth also sounded a strong warning in Zone L (B), brushing aside the challenge of Morant Bay 3-0 behind goals from Tazeo Williams (2) and Renar Edwards.

"I saw a lot of room for improvement out there today so I can't say we played well," said Seaforth's coach, Lansdale Parry. "We are nontheless pleased that we got a win here today."

Titchfield, which played in two finals but have never won the coveted title, also got off to a winning start, clipping Buff Bay 1-0 in their Zone L (A) fixture. Demoy Orgill was the man on target for Titchfield.

In the other Zone L (A) game, Port Antonio clipped Happy Grove 1-0.

The competition will move into top gear this afternoon with nine former champions making their seasonal debut as part of the 19-game fixture, which will be played across eight of the 12 competing zones.

Based on their preseason records from practice matches, all nine former champions - Frome Technical, Rusea's, Godfrey Stewart, St Elizabeth Technical, Munro College, Clarendon College, Vere Technical, Garvey Maceo and Glenmuir - are fancied to make winning starts although a few teams could face tricky assignments.

Despite having a fairly new unit, eight-time champions Rusea's will be aiming to make a statement playing away to Merlene Ottey High in their Zone B fixture at Cold Spring. According to Rusea's technical director, Emerson 'Diggy' Henry, while he is not predicting that his team will win the title, they expect to advance from their zone.

"We might not appear as strong as in former years but we are going to give it everything we have got," said Henry. "We will most certainly be trying to win every game we play."

Today's games

Zone B: Irwin vs Anchovy at Fairfield, Irwin; Frome vs Knockalva at Frome Sports Complex; Merlene Ottey vs Rusea's at Cold Spring

Zone C: Little London vs Mannings at Belle Isle Complex, Godfrey Stewart vs Petersfield at Godfrey Stewart

Zone E: STETHS vs Balaclava at STETHS, Lacovia vs Newell at Newell, Black River vs Munro at Black River

Zone F: Cross Keys vs Manchester at Cross Keys, Decarteret vs May Day at Decarteret, Bellefield vs Belair at Bellefield

Zone G: Knox College vs Edwin Allen at Knox College, Christiana vs Porus at Christiana, Spalding vs Holmwood at Spaldings

Zone H: Clarendon College vs Denbigh at Chapleton, Lennon vs Vere at Lennon

Zone I: Garvey Maceo vs Central at York Town, Tacius Golding vs Glenmuir at Bodles, Old Harbour vs Kemps at Soya Oval

Yesterday's results

Zone L (A)

Titchfield 1 Buff Bay 0

Port Antonio 1 Happy Grove 0

Zone L (B)

Seaforth 3 Morant Bay 0

St Thomas 5 Yallahs 0