National Under-19 off-spinner Horane Linton yesterday produced a good, steady spell of bowling to guide St Elizabeth Technical (STETHS) to a 39-run win over Innswood High in the all-island ISSA/Grace Spalding Cup final at Chedwin Park, St Catherine.

Linton, bowling with good flight, bounce and turn, claimed impressive figures of six for 40, as urban area champions Innswood chasing 227 for victory were dismissed for 188 in the second hour of the first session of yesterday's third and final day.

The triumph, which was rural area kingpins STETHS fifth in the last five years and 25th overall, brought joy to the faces the players, who danced and pranced at the end, while for Innswood, who were losing the final for the second year in a row, it was a matter of what could have been.

final scores

Final scores: STETHS 127 and 162, Innswood 63 and 188.

"It feels good to know that we are champions again after what I think was a hard-fought game," said Clive Ledgister, coach of STETHS.

"It is even more special to know that after planning for it over the last five years, we were able to win the title in this our 50th year of existence and the hope is that we will be able to continue our winning trend in years to come."

Resuming the day on 150 for six, and needing to score another 78 runs to win to pull off what would have been a remarkable win, Innswood started rather spritely when led by Shane Pusey, who was 29 not out overnight, and with new batsman Kemar Foster, they batted with caution and care to see off STETH's lively pacer and first- innings standout, Omar Samuels.