TWO teams will guarantee themselves a slightly easier Christmas holiday tonight when the final four teams play first-round matches in the Premier's Dudley Eve Trophy at Somerset.

Boulevard, surprise leaders of the Premier Division and top qualifiers for the holiday tournament, will hope to carry that form into the cup competition when they take on Somerset Trojans for the second time in a just over a week.

The Blazers' 2-1 win in Somerset last Wednesday enabled them to open a six-point gap at the top of the tables ? an achievement that gives them a tremendous boost ahead of tonight's match. Tonight's winners will join Devonshire Cougars in the winners' bracket in the double elimination tournament.

However, unlike the losers who will enjoy almost a week's rest, tonight's winners will be back into action on Boxing Day at St. David's. The losers face a long road back from the losers' bracket if they are to reach the final while the two Premier and two First Division winners from this week's games will go into the Boxing Day matches knowing another win will qualify them for the two-leg final on December 30 and New Year's Day.

The first teams to be eliminated from the tournament won't happen until next Thursday when the four losers face must-win matches at Devonshire Rec.

The last two teams for the losers' bracket will be determined tonight as First Division sides Ireland Rangers and Wolves start the action off at 7.00.

Devonshire Colts, the first winners of the Dudley Eve back in 1978, are battling for the First Division title and got off to a good start with a 4-0 win over Southampton Rangers on Tuesday night.

Ireland Rangers will be hoping to join them in the winners' bracket with victory over Wolves, currently third in the league tables. Ireland Rangers and Colts lead the First Division and are threatening to run away with the two promotion places and thus book quick returns to the Premier Division following relegation last season.