TWO straight league losses isn't cause for panic within the Devonshire Cougars camp, but some questions will be asked if the defending champions are still pointless after tomorrow night's clash with Boulevard.

For Cougars it has been an interesting first month of the season as they kept their winning streak going in the Martonmere Cup to reach next month's final. However, things have been completely different in the league where, after two matches, they are yet to win and sit at the bottom of the tables.

Already last season's runners-up, North Village, are out of the blocks with six points from their two matches, leaving Cougars in the distance and facing a must-win situation on Saturday night at BAA Field. Village had a similarly slow start to last season's campaign but they recovered brilliantly to catch the leaders in the run-in, only to throw the title away in their final match against Cougars when a draw would have guaranteed them a second straight title.

Cougars responded like true champions in midweek when they came from a goal down against Dandy Town to win 4-1 and set up a second straight Martonmere final with PHC. Indications are they will do the same against Boulevard, a team they hammered 4-0 in Martonmere Cup action recently. Otherwise they could be looking at an eight or nine point gap between themselves and the leaders.

Village will be aiming for a third straight win when they travel to the west to meet Somerset Trojans in the top match on Sunday. The Trojans have started the campaign with two straight draws and that, combined with average performances in the Martonmere Cup, is already giving coach Dennis Brown cause for concern, particularly in the scoring department where goals have been hard to come by.

PHC, not one of the teams expected to maintain a serious challenge in the league, have quietly been picking up results and share second place with Dandy Town after their draw with Devonshire Colts and victory over Cougars.

The Zebras travel to Malabar field to meet Ireland Rangers knowing that a victory and other results going in their favour could just see them in top spot on Sunday night. Rangers produced a dogged performance to pick up a point against the Trojans in their opening match before coming unstuck against Village last weekend when they went down 4-1.

Rangers's promotion partners, Colts, will also be looking to bounce back from defeat last weekend to Boulevard, when they make the trip to St. John's to meet Dandy Town.

Rangers and Colts are the early tips for relegation but who will replace them is anybody's guess. In fact the promotion race could be the most exciting in many years with four or five teams expected to make a strong push for the two spots.

Hamilton Parish presently lead the pack with seven points, but that could change at any time with three other teams (Somerset Eagles, St. David's and Wolves) on six points and all with a game in hand. Southampton Rangers, another promotion tip after strengthening their squad in the summer, suffered a setback when they went down to St. David's last weekend.

Rangers are in action on Saturday night when they meet a BAA side that is finding life back in the league a little bit tough after two heavy defeats. Sunday's top match in the First Division is at St. David's where the leaders Parish meet their landlords. In other action Prospect entertain Kenny Thompson's Somerset Eagles while X-Road meet St. George's in an east-end derby at Garrison Field and Social Club entertain Wolves at Bernard Park.

Schedule

Saturday

First Division: BAA v Southampton (BAA Field 7.00)

Premier Division: Boulevard v Dev. Cougars (BAA Field 9.00)

Sunday

Premier Division: Somerset Trojans v North Village (Somerset); Ireland Rangers v PHC (Malabar Field); Dandy Town v Dev.Colts (St. John's Field).

First Division: Prospect v Som. Eagles (Police Field); X-Roads v St. George's (Garrison Field); Ham. Parish v St. David's (St. David's); Social Club v Wolves (Bernard Park), 3.00). Matches start at 12.30 unless stated.

Women's Division: PHC v Propspect (S. Oval); North Village Lady Rams v Somerset Hurricanes (Bernard Park); Dandy Stars v St. George's Lady Colts (St. John's). Games start at 12.30.

Under 18: Southampton v PHC (S. Oval); Boulevard v Som. Eagles (Shelly Bay); Dandy Town v BAA (St. John's); Somerset v North Village (Somerset).

Tuesday

Shield Elimination: Ham. Parish v St. David's 7.00; BAA v Wolves 9.00. Matches at BAA Field.