Boys' Town's Daemion Benjamin (left) takes matters into his own hands, literally, as he closely marks Waterhouse's star striker Jermaine 'Tuffy' Anderson in their Red Stripe Premier League encounter at the Waterhouse Mini-Stadium yesterday.Waterhouse won 2-0. Ricardo Makyn

Defending Red Stripe Premier League champions, Harbour View, got their title defence off on a losing note, after going down 0-2 to Sporting Central Academy in their opening round encounter yesterday at the Juici Patties Park.

Sporting, which had failed to beat the Stars of the East all of last season, got their goals courtesy of strikes from Gregory Lewis (28th) and Francois Swaby (75th).

Two debutantes in Marvin Morgan and Romario Campbell scored to earn Waterhouse a 2-0 win over Boys' Town at the Drewsland Stadium. Morgan, who made the switch from Boys' Town during the off-season, opened the scoring in the 79th minute before Campbell, who was acquired from Harbour View, made the points save with a 90+2 minutes strike.

physical encounter

Tivoli Gardens emerged from their physical encounter with Montego Bay United at the Edward Seaga Complex 1-0 winners. Rafeik Thomas headed home the game's lone goal in the 62nd minute to condemn Donovan Duckie to a loss in his first league game in charge of Montego Bay.

"If we can score one goal and defend it, then that is good; that is showing that we are working as a team," Tivoli's coach, Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey, said.

Montego Bay's coach, Donovan Duckie, cited hesitancy in front of goal for his team's defeat.

"We weren't clinical today," Duckie argued. "I think we got two good opportunities where we should have got off a shot and we did not."

The Geoffrey Maxwell-coached Humble Lion were also 1-0 winners over Arnett Gardens at the Effortville Community Centre. Roberto Fletcher found the back of the net in the fifth minute and his team was able to protect their advantage to secure three points at their home ground; something that has not always proved easy.

Another team to have registered a 1-0 victory was Cavalier as they clipped Portmore United at Stadium East. Severo Murphy came up with the all-important strike in the 26th minute.

The battle of the two promoted teams ended in a stalemate, as they played to a 1-1 draw at the UWI Bowl. August Town opened the scoring through Larone Russell in the 25th minute, but Kemar Bennett was able to earn a point for Rivoli with a 61st-minute strike.

August Town ended the game with 10 players, as Jerome Weatherbourne received two yellow cards within the space of seven minutes (59th and 66th).

Boys' Town's Daemion Benjamin (left) is sent the wrong way by former team-mate and new Waterhouse player Marvin Morgan Jr, during their Red Stripe Premier League match at the Waterhouse Mini-Stadium yesterday. Morgan Jr scored in a 2 - 0 Waterhouse win. - Ricardo Makyn photos

August Town's Jerome Wedderburn (left) tries to get a toe in on Rivoli's Devon Hodges in their Red Stripe Premier League encounter at the UWI Bowl yesterday. The game ended 1-1.

Waterhouse striker Jermaine Anderson (left) shares a light moment with Jamaica Football Federation President, Captain Horace Burrell, at the Waterhouse Mini-Stadium yesterday, during Red Stripe Premier League action.

Yesterday's Results:

Sporting Central 2

Gregory Lewis 28th

Francois Swaby 75th

Harbour View 0

Waterhouse 2

Marvin Morgan 79th

Romario Campbell 90+2

Boys' Town 0

Tivoli Gardens 1

Rafiek Thomas 62nd

Montego Bay United 0

Cavalier 1

Severo Murphy 26th

Portmore 0

Humble Lion 1

Roberto Fletcher 5th

Arnett Gardens 0

August Town 1

Larone Russell 25th

Jerome Weatherbourne - Red card 66th

Rivoli United 1

Kemar Bennett 61st