Consistency has become a trademark for Devonshire Colts in recent years but nights like the one they endured at Devonshire Recreation Club on Tuesday do much to explode such theory as myth.

The cup pedigree supposedly resides with Colts and PHC. Colts have reached the Dudley Eve Trophy final in four of the last five seasons while PHC are the most successful club in this competition with six wins. But, on the evidence of the first-round matches, reputation means nothing.

Unbeaten since November 4 when they received a 5-2 thrashing at the hands of Wolves in a league match, Colts were the form team heading into the holiday season. But a lot of Raymond Beach mixed with sprinklings of Heys Wolffe resulted in their defence shipping five more to leave them fast approaching pretenders status.

Shannon Burgess, the former Bermuda captain, resides at the heart of the Colts defence and he admits they have much to do if they are to have a positive say in how the tournament unfolds. The one positive is that they meet a PHC side who looked equally at sixes and sevens at the back in their 4-1 defeat to Wolves, but Burgess’s concerns rest with his side.

“That was disappointing after we got the start that we did,” Burgess said, with a voice made raspy by the previous night’s labours. “The marking was really slack and guys weren’t prepared to play in those type of conditions.”

Burgess gave Colts the ideal start with a precise header in the second minute but they were no match for Cougars once a confident Beach hit his straps, aided by a conditions left treacherous for defenders by a pre-match rainstorm.

Burgess added: “Over the last two games we haven’t played well defensively. Leading up to the Wolves game we were pretty solid at the back but for some reason we’ve slackened off. So that’s something we have to address.’’

Colts were missing McKonnen Hollis, injured in the Friendship Trophy win over Wolves last week, from the heart of their defence and it showed as Michael Bean was given a roasting in his attempts to track Beach. If Hollis remains sidelined, Bean can expect more of the same in terms of quality when he is confronted with a PHC front line that contains Stephen Astwood and Raynel Lightbourne.

“All four teams in this tournament have explosive front lines,” Burgess said. “Wolves showed it last night, Cougars showed it last night and PHC have Stephen Astwood and Manga (Lightbourne), who are guys that need to be watched. So in order for us to be successful in this tournament we have to concentrate a lot more at the back. That will give us a chance to go forward and create some chances.”

With the return of Damon Ming from school abroad, Colts themselves have an attack to be feared. Ming displayed a turn of pace that many in the Cougars defence had no answer to, typified by the mazy run that he made which led to the penalty, and his partnership with the efficient Lloyd Holder and Quincy Aberdeen has the makings of a cup winner. But, again, the defence —Continued on Page 19