After guiding his school to a record fifth straight hold on the urban area ISSA Grace Shield cricket title on Thursday, Eltham High's head coach, Oral Simpson, has decided to call it quits.

Simpson, who has been coaching at the school since their foray into urban area cricket in 2003, cited personal reasons for his decision, saying that it's time to take a break.

"I have decided to call it a day and focus on some other things," Simpson told the media on Friday after his team's first innings triumph over Innswood High in the three-day final at Melbourne on Thursday.

"It's been five fulfilling years of which I thoroughly enjoyed. However, I believe it is time for me to go and take a break," he explained.

A certified West Indies Level Two coach, Simpson, who is also a teacher at the school, has been churning up results and records left, right and centre, ever since he took up coaching duties at the school.

In 2005, after only their second season of competition, Simpson guided Eltham to the three titles, the Grace Shield Under-19, Colts Under-16, and Grace Jackie Hendriks Under-14 trophy. The Colts team also went on to win the all-island title.

Five Grace Shield titles

Since then Eltham, which was established eight years ago, has racked up five straight Grace Shield titles and four straight Jamaica International Insurance Company (JIIC) Knockout (formerly Tappin Cup) titles. They have won the Under-19 double, four years in a row.

"We will miss him and hope that he will reconsider his decision," said Eltham's captain and national Under-19 left-arm pacer, Romeo Dunca, who has been a part of the Eltham set-up and successes since their admission to urban area competitions.

"He has been an inspiration for all of us, teaching us how to play the game and the importance of discipline in whatever you do. We are all better players and students because of him," Dunca added.

Meanwhile, Thursday's third and final day of the Grace Shield final saw Eltham consolidating their first innings lead to emerge victors after the game ended in a draw.

Final Scores: Eltham 357 (Jervin Gordon 68, Romeo Parker 58; Andra Henry 3-82) and 323 (Kavin Bonner 72, Jervin Gordon, 54). Innswood 177 (Oraine Williams 45, Dunca 6-52, Shawn Headlam 3-41) and 127-5.

Eltham will now turn their attention to the all-island Spaulding Cup where they will face either St Elizabeth Technical or Port Antonio High, who will both contest the final of the Grace Headley Cup on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.