DUDLEY Eve champions and relegation in the same season.

Teams that high up in the Premier Division standings by Christmas don't usually don't slump to the depths of relegation but that is what will happen to Wolves in the next few weeks if they don't start winning soon.

No team has ever won the Dudley Eve Trophy and suffer relegation in the same season, though PHC almost went down in 1996-97, after winning the Dudley Eve in the same season. They finished in eighth place, four points ahead of St. David's.

Ten years ago Hamilton Parish qualified for the Dudley Eve after a strong first half - and even reached the semi-finals - but a second-half slump almost saw them relegated, too. They finished just two points ahead of Southampton Rangers at the end of that 1991-92 season.

Only a few weeks ago Wolves' motocade was travelling around Bermuda, blowing their horns and celebrating their first Dudley Eve triumph on New Year's Day. But the same points they finished the first half of the season with - 13 - is the same they have at present following their fourth straight league loss in 2002 three days ago.

The midweek loss to Devonshire Colts leaves Wolves second-from-bottom in the standings, three points adrift of Dandy Town, Devonshire Cougars and Somerset Trojans but with just three matches remaining.

Wolves have to start winning soon as time is running out in the 14-game league season. They should be good enough for three points against already-relegated St. George's Colts in a bottom-of-the-table clash at Wellington Oval where, ironically they last won a match.

It will be interesting to see what mood St. George's are in now that they have failed in their bid to reach the FA Cup final for the first time. Their season is effectively over, except for possibly deciding whom they take into the First Division next season with them. Certainly they ran Dandy Town close in their last two outings and if they are in a similiar mood, Wolves could find the going tough.

The Trojans, Cougars and Dandy Town Hornets all have one eye on the championship race while the other is looking nervously over their shoulder...such is the closeness of the teams from first to sixth where only five points separate them.

Cougars take on Colts tonight (9.00) at Devonshire Rec., the second match in three days for the latter who climbed back into championship contention with the 1-0 win over Wolves and now trail leaders North Village by just one point.

This is a match that Cougars can ill afford to lose, just in case Wolves end their slump. Like Wolves, Cougars had more to shout about in the first half of the season when they won the Martonmere Cup for the first time in November. Since then they too have been hot one day and cold the next.

PHC's originally scheduled Saturday match against Dandy Town has been put back to Sunday because of light problems at Somerset. Just a point separates these two teams and PHC, relegated twice before, need the three points to not only stay near the top but also keep some distance between themselves and the teams below them. The Zebras will actually secure their safety if they win and Wolves lose.

Sunday's other match at Bernard Park could have a strong bearing on the title race as leaders North Village clash with the Trojans. A Village win would eliminate the Trojans from the league race as they would be eight points ahead of the Trojans and with only two games remaining.

In fact, a Village win could effectively take two or three other teams out of the league equation as well, possibly narrowing it down to a three-team race for the final two rounds of matches.

After this weekend Village still have to play Wolves and Dandy Town while Devonshire Colts will meet Somerset and PHC. The Zebras' other match is against St. George's while the Trojans also have to play the bottom team.

The First Division promotion race is shaping up for an interesting finish too, with Somerset Eagles' recent slump enabling third and fourth placed teams St. David's and Hamilton Parish to close in.

Boulevard, three points clear, look certain now to take one of the spots. However, Boulevard have a bye this weekend while Eagles face a crucial match against Hamilton Parish at White Hill field. Eagles could either join Boulevard on 29 points or hold just a one point lead over both St. David's and Parish who will make up their game in hand next weekend when Eagles have their bye.

St. David's also travel west, to Southampton Oval to meet Rangers, while the other matches see bottom team Social Club hosting Paget at Bernard Park and Prospect entertaining Ireland Rangers at Police Field.