Micky Ward, the Flanagan’s Onions coach, believes that clinching a place in next season’s Dudley Eve competition is just reward for his side’s hard work.

The top six teams qualify for the Dudley Eve with Onions in fifth position. Ward’s side cannot be caught by the chasing pack with two league games of their season remaining.

PHC Zebras and Hamilton Parish are four points behind Onions, but both teams only have one game of the campaign left. Onions still have a rearranged game to play against Somerset Trojans at Goose Gosling Field on March 19, before finishing the season against St David’s.

Ward said he was happy the club managed to achieve their season’s objectives.

“I think we’ve had a very good season,” Ward said. “We have two games left and there are still places to play for, but it’s great being in a position not looking over our shoulders. We can really go into the last two games and enjoy them.

“Staying up wasn’t our main priority. Yes, staying up was an early priority, we wanted to be safe from relegation as early as possible, but our objective would change as soon as we felt we had achieved that.

“This season the true objective was really to finish in the top half of the table, and get ourselves a Dudley Eve spot.”

Onions did the double over Parish and Southampton Rangers while earning impressive wins against league leaders Dandy Town at St John’s Field and PHC at home.

Ward added: “We stayed on the heels of the top teams for the majority of the season.

“We’ve guaranteed ourselves a top half finish with two games to play, so the season isn’t over, but can already be considered a success. It’s great to be in the Dudley Eve competition next season.

“It is a well-regarded tournament in Bermuda, represented by the top six teams, and to be a part of that will be great.”

n The Premier Division season will conclude on Sunday, March 30.

Due to a shortage of officials the Premier Division and First Division matches will be held on separate Sundays.

This weekend’s First Division matches have X-Roads playing Paget at Garrison Field; Boulevard facing Somerset Eagles at Police Field; BAA Wanderers taking on Young Men’s Social Club at Goose Gosling Field; Ireland Island Rangers against Robin Hood at Malabar and St George’s playing Devonshire Colts at Wellington Oval. All matches kick off at 12.30pm