as leading contenders for promotion from the Daihatsu Second Division.

Current leaders Wolves and rival side Devonshire Cougars have so far shown themselves to be a class above the rest in the battle to join the top flight next year.

The former thrashed Paget 7-0 on Sunday to move to six points, the same as Cougars, who smashed five unanswered goals past hapless Social Club. Cougars trail on goal difference but have played a game less -- three.

There are in fact many similarities between the sides. Both hail from the parish of Devonshire, share the same home venue, have new faces in their respective coaching positions. They were also relegated in the last couple of season, Wolves in 1991 and Cougars the following year.

They have also each been saddled with the "bad boy'' label -- fairly or unfairly -- possibly because of perceived unruliness and deportment.

Cougars had four players sent off during their opening win against Somerset Eagles, but nevertheless have proceeded to reel off four straight victories, including one in the FA Cup elimination round.

Coach Brian (Bulla) Anderson, in his first such senior position after a notable playing career which took in stays at Boulevard, PHC and Cougars, has so far been able to exact the necessary ingredients out of his men to win.

"What we're aiming for is winning promotion whether it be coming first or second,'' said Anderson, also a former Bermuda international.

"We have a lot of quality players and depth, so that even though we lost four players we're still able to move on and win. We don't have any problem finding replacements.'' Asked why he made the decision to pack up his boots and go over to the coaching side, Anderson explained that he felt that he had accomplished most of his goals as a player and had maybe lost some of the competitive drive needed to perform well.

Coaching thus offered a new challenge, the chance to view things from the other side and be able to relay knowledge and past experience and "put something back into the game''.

He added: "The main difference is that I don't have to go out there and play.

As a coach you put things to players as you want them to be done and it's not always that they come off, so you have to be patient as well.

"My main thing is trying to keep their minds focussed on the main goal and to always be one step ahead of the opponents.'' Meanwhile, the scene unfolding at Wolves witnesses Jack Castle -- once a teammate of Anderson at PHC -- holding the reins as they search for the "promised land'' where Colts, Zebras, Trojans and Red Devils roam.

Long groomed for the PHC head coaching position Castle lasted one season before requesting more control and once rejected he resigned.

It was a mild surprise when he dropped a division to Wolves Wolves and it was a shock for him when he arrived to find things in almost total disarray with regard to the senior team.

An opening 4-0 loss to BAA, where several players arrived without player cards, demanded Castle put his foot down and he did so ... firmly.

"I knew it was definitely going to be a challenge and a chance to prove myself as a coach going down into the Second Division,'' said Castle. "It's just a matter of putting the many years of training received at PHC to task.

The difference is here I can express myself and my own techniques more.

"There were a few discipline problems here that needed sorting out and I went at them with a no-nonsense attitude and was not going to accept any player being disrespectful to me of any member of the staff.'' It is ironic that the rise of Wolves has coincided with the surprise decline of his former club, to which he responded: "I left them (PHC) in the hands of two of the most respected coaches and successful coaches in football, so obviously it wasn't me.'' Though early returns appear to show that the messages of Castle and Anderson are getting through, though each realise that a long season yet awaits and there will be many ups and downs along the way.

And while confident, each have stressed the "one game at a time'' theory in hopes that their charges can maintain the required intensity and level of play through the 16 league matches.

SHAWN SMITH -- The experienced defender (front) is lending a hand to the Cougars promotion push.