take on the defending men's champions Staffhawks in their opening game of the Bermuda Hockey Festival next Tuesday at Nationals.

Staffhawks are aiming to make it a hat-trick of victories in the event, having already won the title the last two years -- which is quite an achievement for the England team whose players are members of different teams.

Bermuda though is not phased by the sizable challenge so early in the campaign and team coach Nigel Pichery is looking forward to the match-up with justified optimism.

The team has been involved in coaching sessions supervised by top English coach Chris Cox for nearly two weeks and according to Pichery, Cox has been encouraged by the response of the local players.

"It has been his encouraging views that has given me further belief that we would do well in the tournament,'' said Pichery.

"It's difficult to say what our game plan will be though one objective will be to shut them down in midfield.'' While admitting that Staffhawks will be tough opponents, Pichery said that playing the champions early may in fact turn out to be of some advantage to the local players because it could take awhile for Staffhawks to make an adjustment to the different playing conditions.

"They play on synthetic surfaces in England, maybe the adjustment playing on grass here will take them awhile to settle down,'' he confided.

In addition to these two teams there are three others in the men's division.

They are Toronto Hockey Club, a Bermuda Select and American team Greenwich who lost out to Toronto on a penalty stroke shootout in a battle for a place in the final last year.

There are nine women's teams competing, including last year's winners Mocklow's Magic. The others are Bermuda's national team, Flashy Forties, BLHA Under-21, Babson College, Wesleyan University, Toronto Ladies, Pingree School and Bernese Sports Club of Switzerland.

TENNIS TEN The Royal Navy is going to war with Bermuda -- on the tennis court.

For the Navy's seven-man, five-woman tennis team is starting a 10-day tour of the Island on September 1.

And opponents will include the Police, tennis clubs, and hotels.

It will climax with a contest against Bermuda's National Team on September 10 at the Tennis Stadium.

Leading the Navy will be its current champions Lt. Rob Reynolds and Lt. Carol Elliott.

Play will feature singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, and there will also be coaching at HMS Malabar's new tennis centre.

The programme has been organised by HMS Malabar's Cdr. Robin Bawtree, who will host the Navy's team at his Base.

Last year saw the mens' and ladies' teams beat the Army and RAF in the prestigious inter-service event at Wimbledon.

"They are hoping to build on their success during the tour,'' said Cdr.

Bawtree.

"The team consists of players from all walks of Naval life and the tour will enable them to work on intensive match practice prior to returning to their various ships and shore establishments on completion of the tour.'' The tour starts with a match against the Pomander Gate Tennis Club on September 3 at 5 p.m.

SOCCER SOC PHC junior teams are all prepared for today's departure to Atlanta, Georgia, where they will compete in the Georgia Youth Soccer tournament -- formerly the Pele Cup -- for the second straight year.

The club will be represented by two Mini Minors teams in the 10-12 age group, one Minor team in the 12-14 age group and a Bantam team in the 14-16 age group. The five coaches travelling with the group are Livingston Tuzo, Wendell Furbert, David Bean, Selvin Caines and Dana Rawlins.

PHC will be the only international club competing in the tournament which will run from September 3-6. They will return home on September 7.

PHC's youngsters have had moderate success in the tournament with their Minors having earned a place in the semifinals two years ago.

In addition to competing in the popular tournament, one highlight for the youngsters will be their visit Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium to watch a live baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and San Francisco Giants next Wednesday.

CRICKET CRI The members of the Bermuda national squad chosen this week to train for the ICC trophy in Kenya next year are all requested to attend a meeting at Devonshire Rec. on Monday starting at 7.30p.m. Anyone unable to attend is asked to call the office of the Board office at 292-8958.