Mount Pleasant FA continued to set the pace in the second round of the Wray & Nephew Jamaica Premier League (JPL), as they won eleven of the thirteen matches they played in the round while securing one draw and suffering one loss. 

They extended their four-game win streak from the end of the first round, to thirteen in the second round, a premier league record, before they eventually lost to Harbour View at the ‘Compound’. Since then, Mount Pleasant have gone unbeaten once more, with three wins and a draw to complete round two with 62 points and an eight-point gap at the top. 

Arnett Gardens remained hot on the heels of leaders Mount Pleasant with a record of eight wins, two draws and three losses to end round two on 54 points.  Their consistency has seen them open a four-point gap between themselves and third-placed Montego Bay United, which could prove pivotal in a chase for a place in the top two, to avoid playing in the quarterfinal round heats up. 

Montego Bay United, who are in third place, answered the question of whether or not they are genuine title contenders. Seven wins, four draws and two losses for 25 points in the second round have seen them match their first-round performance to put them on 50 points, four behind second place and six points above fourth place. Their fierce 1-1 draw with leaders Mount Pleasant FA to end the second round tells that they are ready for the scrap when the time comes.

Cavalier drew almost half of their matches in the second round (six), won five, while they drew two to finish the round in fourth place on 44 points. While some other clubs would have been happy with such returns, the defending champions are known for their consistency in winning and would consider the second round to be just below par for them.  

Portmore United are just a point behind the defending champions Cavalier SC in fifth place on 43 points. They are pretty well poised to secure a playoff spot come the end of the third round. Rodolph Austin, who had been appointed as an interim coach at the start of the season, has made the head coaching job his own. He has done creditably well and will certainly be looking to guide his team to the playoffs come April. 

Waterhouse had the worst run of the top six teams in the second round. They remain in the playoff positions, but only just.  A wretched run saw them lose seven, draw three and win just three of their thirteen games. They ended the round on 37 points but are far from being a sure thing for the playoffs. The pressure will be on Marcel Gayle to ensure that they remain in the top six at the end of third round. 

Racing United found their footing in the second round to be one of the top performers in the second round. They matched the results of champions Cavalier and former champions Portmore United to climb from 11th place to seventh and are only three points outside the playoffs. It was an impressive performance from Anthony Patrick and his boys. They will be hoping to match that energy in the third round and create history by making the playoffs. 

Tivoli Gardens could have been right there in the shakeup with Racing United in the chase for a spot in the playoffs, but they let a two-goal lead slip away to Harbour View to end up with a 2-2 draw to end the second round on 32 points. They are still within touching distance of the top six. 

The return of Harold Thomas saw a huge turnaround in fortunes for Dunbeholden FC. After some successful manoeuvring in the transfer market, Thomas was able to bring some trusted veterans back to the club to finish the round with an impressive six-game unbeaten streak, including five wins, to drag the club to safety. 

They are now in ninth place on 32 points, the same as Tivoli Gardens, but they are separated by goal difference. 

While the top three spots in the playoffs seem already decided, that certainly cannot be said for all the others, especially the sixth and final spot, and the intrigue of who claims it, will be played out over the next 13 match weeks.