Reigning First Division champions Boulevard added another verse to their rising reputation as draw specialists after battling PHC to a scoreless stalemate at PHC Stadium yesterday -- their sixth draw in seven matches.

However, the visiting Blazers were fortunate to walk away with even one point of the spoils as the Zebras created enough chances in the first half to have wiped them off the pitch.

This battle saw the more youthful Zebras expose the many shortcomings of Boulevard, especially in defence where holes were evident on several occasions but never exploited for full value.

The visitors started with a defence containing Dean Boyles and Albert Caisey as full backs, while Mitchell Trott and Wayne Richardson patrolled the centre with normal defensive `rock' Leroy Stevens pressed forward in a midfield role.

Stevens' absence at the back was first felt in the 10th minute as PHC laid siege upon the Boulevard goalmouth during a skirmish that saw Frank Ming, Shawn Simons and Winston Trott each having attempts from within 10 yards turned away by a scrambling Blazers' defence.

Three minutes later PHC's Winston Trott embarked on a one-man journey along the right side, slipping past a despairing tackle by Caisey before unloading a thumping angled volley that dipped but a moment late, ricocheting off the crossbar, much to the relief of goalkeeper Mitchell Steede.

Dano Outerbridge similarly came close 15 minutes later, rising well at the far post to connect with a floated, right-wing corner by Simons, only to watch his effort sail a foot wide of the top, left corner.

It was at that point that the hitherto slumber stricken Blazers showed signs of stirring and manufactured their first purposeful forward foray.

A backpedalling Outerbridge was pressured into making an ill-advised sideways pass across his own penalty area only to set up an onrushing Ross Lambe, but he rebuffed the offered gift shooting wide with only the 'keeper to beat.

Outerbridge again found himself in the thick of the action at the other end in the 24th minute, but showed why he is preferred in defence as he miraculously scooped the ball over from four yards following an inch perfect free kick by Enwar Hunt on the right side. Meanwhile, Hypolite tested Ellsworth Bean between the sticks for PHC as the interval neared, sliding in a right footed effort following a neat exchange with skipper Dwight Warren that Bean collected cleanly chest high. However, while the first half at least provided opportunities, the second supplied little to cheer about, with the only moment causing the crowd to rise above a purr occurring 10 minutes from the end when Mitchell Steede followed a moment of brilliance by namesake Otis Steede with one of his own. Otis Steede followed up on his own right wing corner-kick that was partially cleared to scorch a bending drive that appeared destined for goal, yet was denied by the cat-like reflexes of Mitchell Steede, who nudged the ball over the bar using his finger-tips. With six draws in seven matches Boulevard find themselves wallowing like also-rans in eighth place on six points, one behind PHC and in serious danger of missing qualifying for the Dudley Eve Trophy and soon likely to be eliminated from serious title contention. PHC: E.Bean; R.Lewis, M.Wade, D.Outerbridge, E.Hunt; M.Trott, F.Ming, W.Crockwell (O.Steede 37 mins); S.Ming, W.Trott (K.Mills 72 mins), S.Simons (M.Smith 77 mins). Boulevard: M.Steede; D.Boyles, M.Trott, W.Richardson, A.Caisey (S.Smith 45 mins); L.Stevens, L.Hypolite, M.Holdipp; V.Eve (V.Symonds 74 mins), R.Lambe, D.Warren. Men of the match: Dano Outerbridge (PHC), Leonard Hypolite (Boulevard). Referee: Stuart Crockwell.