NORMALLY winning the league and FA Cup double would represent an outstanding achievement for any team in local football.

But considering what was at stake for North Village this time last week, they will know that even winning the league and FA Cup will be less than what they could have achieved after being in line to achieve the second Triple Crown in the club's history. They failed at the second hurdle last weekend when PHC stopped them in the Friendship final.

Village have already won the league, and the way they have been playing in the second half of the season, few would have bet against them beating PHC and Dandy Town in the season-ending finals to wrap up the treble.

Apparantly the Zebras didn't read the script and produced the victory that not only broke North Village's heart, but also took the Zebras into the history books as the most successful team in the Friendship Trophy. Not even Village's go-ahead goal from a questionable penalty in the first half could deter PHC, who battled back to win an exciting final 3-2. For more than a decade (1990) the Zebras have shared the most Friendship wins with Somerset Trojans at eight apiece, but last Sunday they moved on to nine titles with the kind of gritty performance in a final that the Zebras have become renown for over the years. It was the first time PHC and Village have met in any final since the FA in 1989 which the the former won 2-1. Village, making their third straight appearance in the FA final, have the chance to make up for last weekend's loss and last season's 3-1 defeat to Devonshire Colts in the FA Cup. But Dandy Town won't be in a generous mood as they will want to produce the perfect send-off for retiring coach Andrew Bascome against his former Village team.

Town came from behind to beat St. George's in the semi-final and reach their sixth final, while Village's last hurdle on the way to the final was First Division runner-up Somerset Eagles. Before their loss to the Zebras, Village would have been firm favourites in the final, but now it will be different as Town will certainly take heart from the PHC victory. Village will need to regroup fast if they are to end their season on a high note.

Last weekend Village had to make a late change to their starting lineup when, during the warmup, Clay Smith felt something that wasn't right with his left knee (he was already wearing a knee band) and decided against risking it in such an important match. Smith subsequently took a seat in the grandstand and watched his team suffer only their second loss in the second half of the season, knowing that somehow he could have made a difference.

Village will be hoping Smith is able to play on Sunday in the crucial end-of-season final. This will be the first meeting between the teams in the FA Cup final, a competition Village have won five times. Town's one and only win was back in 1986-87. They have lost in four other finals since then so that will give them extra determination to end their losing sequence.

The Triple Crown may have eluded North Village but Rude Girls should wrap up the women's Triple Crown title when they meet Hemisphere Royals in the 1.00 FA Cup final.

Rude Girls won a fourth straight Konica Cup last weekend when they beat Dandy Stars 3-2 and should make it three cups in one season when they bid to defend the FA Cup and confirm their status as the Island's top women's team.

Rude Girls won the FA Cup last season, beating PHC 2-1 in a close final at the National Stadium.