St Mary's College and Queen's Royal College's unique derby-like rivalry produced a thrilling RBTT Inter Col encounter at Fatima Ground, Mucurapo Road yesterday.
Savion Kirton handed St Mary's a 2-0 lead, before QRC surged back to draw level, thanks to T&T youth striker Jerrel Britto and excellent work from Akil Clarke.
In another game yesterday, "Compre", facing newcomers Woodbrook Government Secondary, gave them a lesson in Championship Division football in the form of an 8-0 drubbing, skipper Kevin Molino notching a hat-trick, while Johan Peltier hit the net twice for the Mucurapo Road team.
At Fatima Ground, it took St Mary's just 15 minutes to get the go-ahead goal. Stephen Bishop's close-range shot cannoned off the corner of the goalpost, landing nicely for Kirton, who buried his attempt to give Saints a 1-0 lead, which they kept until half-time.
After 30 minutes, Chislon Richardson threatened to double up for St Mary's but for an alert defender. At the other end, Britto was waiting for the service that hardly came and not good enough. Just after the break, as if willed on by an expectant crowd, the match roared to life.
It all started with Kirton, who gave his team a 2-0 advantage in the 52nd, finishing well after some neat St Mary's inter-passing opened up the QRC defence.
"A-raz a-taz, a-raz a-taz, a-zim, boom, bah! Come on...St...Mary's!" went the chorus of Saints in the crowd.
Their cheers were short-lived, thanks to Britto. Barely two minutes later, he had pulled one back for the "Royalians" when given enough space and time to lash past CIC goalkeeper Raheem Belgrave.
Belgrave conceded again in the 59th and the teams were locked at 2-2. This time, Akil Clarke was fed through on the right and timed his run perfectly to beat the onrushing Belgrave to his far post.
After an ensuing 30 minutes of gusto and brave saves from both teams, the match seemed set for a spotkick shootout, but Briggs delivered the goods for St Mary's, rising high to head home past Joseph off a Chad Appoo corner kick and spark loud celebrations from their supporters.
QRC had further insult added to that injury with both Theon James and Britto receiving marching orders in one go. For the mass of QRC old boys sitting in the stands in hopes of achieving success through the current Royalian breed, the loss means yet another year of waiting, with their 2008 season over.
Yesterday's RBTT Inter Col scores:
North Zone
St Mary's 3 (Savion Kirton 15th, 52nd; Christian Briggs 90th) v QRC 2 (Jerrel Britto 54th, Akil Clarke 59th)
Mucurapo 8 (Kevin Molino 3, Johan Peltier 2, Tesfa Corrigon, Mutar Taylor, Terrence Clarke) v Woodbrook Sec 0
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