PHC, less than half a season back in the top division, have already qualified for the Dudley Eve Trophy over the Christmas and New Year's holidays.

And another victory tonight at Somerset (8.00) against the Trojans would virtually assure the still-unbeaten Zebras of ending the first half of the Premier Division season in first place.

With only two more matches remaining (Devonshire Colts and Vasco have a game in hand) before the top four teams are determined, it already looks certain that two of the sides from last year, Dandy Town and Wolves, will not qualify.

Presently they occupy seventh and eighth in the standings with only three wins between them. And even if they win their two remaining matches, which would give them 14 and 12 points respectively, it probably will not be enough to climb the table sufficiently.

Town are away to Boulevard who also have only a slim chance of qualifying for the double elimination tournament. After a good start Boulevard have been fading lately, though they ended a losing run of three games with victory over Wolves in their last outing.

Town won the season's first major trophy when they beat Wolves in the Martonmere Cup final, though neither team have set the season alight. Instead the Zebras, the most successful team in the Dudley Eve history with six victories, look to be the club to beat.

The Trojans are presently in fourth spot, but with Vasco a point below them and with a game in hand, they know they will have to pick up maximum points from the Zebras match tonight and from Southampton Rangers next weekend.

With just three points separating Devonshire Colts and defending Dudley Eve champions North Village in second and third from Boulevard, sixth, the battle for the last three spots in wide open. The final one or two spots could be decided when Colts and Vasco play their make-up game on December 17.

Colts, also with an extra game to play, are in possibly the best position.

They could help their cause with victory over Wolves, though Mark (Beaver) Ray and Ellington Weldon may have something to say about that when they go up against their former team-mates.

Another player aiming to make his mark against his former team is Village's Kentoine Jennings who is back with the Red Devils after a few seasons with Vasco. In the Vasco line-up will be former Village youth player Keith Jennings who is the brother of Kentoine and Kevin.

Dwight Warren has had a dream start with the Red Devils and has given them something that his former team, Boulevard, miss most...experience and goals! In two outings since becoming a late transfer Warren has netted three goals.

In a bottom of the table clash at Southampton Oval, Rangers will meet St.

David's. Rangers are a better team than their lowly position suggests but points, not potential, is what will keep them in the top flight.

St. David's, for all intents and purposes, are doomed unless they can string together several good performances in the next few matches.

The battle for the lone First Division promotion place is heating up with Ireland Rangers losing top spot and their unbeaten league record with a 5-1 hammering at the hands of mid-table Hamilton Parish last weekend.

Rangers have been replaced as First Division leaders by Devonshire Cougars and as fate would have it, the teams will meet at Devonshire Rec. in a match that could determine who holds down first place over Christmas and New Year. This will be Cougars' final match of the first half while Rangers have played one game less. The BFA have not ruled on the abandoned match on November 7 between Ireland Rangers and Somerset Eagles, though suspensions have already been meted out. Also outstanding is the match between Prospect and Paget which was not played on that same day because Police Field was not prepared.

Two other teams still very much in promotion contention are third and fourth-placed Social Club and Hamilton Parish who clash at St. David's in another crucial encounter.

Eagles are away to Prospect at Police Field while Paget travel to Wellington Oval looking for their first win of the season against St. George's.

The referees' course, which was scheduled to start last night and continue this weekend, has been postponed because of poor attendance.