TRAINING early on Christmas morning and practising penalties before taking on North Village on New Year's Day helped Devonshire Cougars capture their first silverware of the season ? the Dudley Eve Champions Cup.

On Sunday Cougars, last season's Premier champions, face bottom-of-the-table Ireland Rangers as league action renews.

But don't tell Cougars coach Andrew Bascome that the match against the promoted west-end side will be a walkover.

"They (Ireland Rangers) have not won a game this season but as a coach I am always concerned. They have nothing to lose and I am concerned about when they are going to get their result because those players have been putting in the time (training) just like we have," said Bascome.

While Ireland Rangers have struggled to make the jump to the Premier Division this season and will be eager to get their first victory in the top flight, it is doubtful that they were training on Christmas Day!

But that is exactly what Bascome had his players doing on the one day everyone looks forward to for some relaxation.

After coming up short in the Martonmere Cup competition, Cougars badly wanted some silverware.

"I upped the training schedule a bit," said Bascome of the Dudley Eve tournament over the holidays. "We trained on Christmas day starting at 7.30 in the morning." While some players might have been a little put out about training on Christmas morning, Bascome said: "Now my players can look back on the victory and see what they had to do to get the job done. Now they realise what it takes to be successful ? they realise they have to do the extra bit of work to get there and that is exactly what they did. There is no getting away from putting in the hard work ? preparation must kick in. Some people call it luck when things fall for you (as in winning the penalty shootout against Village) but the Chinese say luck is a residue of hard work and I take that same philosophy.

"I believe if you put your time in things should fall for you. You should capitalise on it. We had training sessions all over the holidays."

Bascome also had his players practise penalty kicks before the Dudley Eve final and Cougars, after drawing with Village 1-1 after extra time, saw that practise pay off by winning the shootout 6-5.

"To take a penalty in front of all those people is a lot of pressure ? it is character building," said last season's Coach of the Year of the thousands who crowded into Wellington Oval for the final. "I tell my players that street doesn't get you ready for life, football gets you ready for life. You are not guaranteed to score (from the penalty spot). If you miss you have to pick yourself up and go on. All that gangster mentality doesn't work. You have to be humble and work hard."

Of Ireland Rangers this weekend, Bascome said: "I have to make sure that we are prepared so their result doesn't come against us. You can never underestimate the heart and desire of the opposition. That is the beauty about football. Look at the (English) FA Cup last weekend ? Burton Albion took Manchester United to a replay. Look what Liverpool went through (before winning against Luton). You can never underestimate the heart and desire of the opposition. You do not know what extra things these individual players are doing just to be more comfortable on the field. We have to make sure we are well prepared and focussed. I am not expecting to blow them away. Football always gives the chance for the underdog to rise up. I never underestimate anyone. I take this game very seriously."

Cougars will play at Malabar against Rangers this weekend while North Village and PHC meet at Southampton Oval. Devonshire Colts host Dandy Town at Police Field with Somerset Trojans hosting Boulevard. All matches will be on Sunday starting at 3.00 p.m.