BYE BYE 
Saints go marching out Friday, October 20 2006
The Saints go marching out
WALTER ALIBEY Friday, October 20 2006
THE FAMILIAR chant of St Mary’s College footballers, known as CIC, in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) will not be heard during next year’s edition of the prestigious competition.
The boys in the familiar blue and white striped jerseys played to a disappointing 1-1 tie yesterday with Malick Secondary Comprehensive at their home ground at Serpentine Road, St Clair.
With that result they finished bottom of the standings with just seven points from 12 matches and have been relegated to the Senior Division.
But the St Mary’s boys tried hard for a win. Nicholas Walker gave them a 40th minute lead, but Malick’s Kevin Hernandez spoiled the party when he equalised in the 75th minute and literally brought tears to the eyes of players and fans.
St Mary’s, known as “The Saints” is one of the founding teams of the schools league, along with rivals Queen’s Royal College (QRC) dating back to the 1960s.
They seemed to have been off to an excellent season getting past their first hurdle against QRC whom they outclassed 3-2 on the Royalians Ground.
Their demotion came despite recruiting Englishman and old boy Jason Edwards as coach for the first time.
Yesterday president of the SSFL Ewing Davis said the only thing to prevent the Saints from a certain demotion is if their Senior Division team can win in the North Zone.
Newsday was told that there was a clause in the Secondary Schools Football League Constitution which prevented the founding teams of the schools league from being relegated.
However, Davis denied yesterday there was no such rule in the constitution and therefore the Saints will be booted out of the Championship Division.
“We in the schools league try to encourage promotion and demotion which often serve for better competition in the league,” Davis said.
Meanwhile QRC secured the fifth place position in the standings following a 1-1 draw with Fatima College. And Trinity College surprisingly edged champs Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive1-0 at Fatima College Ground, Mucurapo.
In the East Zone San Juan Senior Comprehensive hammered six goals past the much fancied El Dorado Secondary Comprehensive to win 6-1.
Malabar also collected three easy points by crushing the “Dial Dynamos” Arima Senior Comprehensive 4-0.
In another match in the East Zone, Toco Composite held Hillview to a 1-1 draw at Moonlighting Park, El Dorado.
In the South Zone, Fyzabad Composite face another exit from the zone following a 2-0 loss to St Benedict’s College, while Vessigny whipped Presentation College 3-0.
