A record 13th Friendship Trophy title came at a huge cost for PHC Zebras captain Marco Warren.

The influential playmaker and last season’s most valuable player in the Premier Division injured his ankle in a crunching tackle with North Village captain Tahmi Williams and has been sidelined ever since.

“It happened in a 50-50 with Tahmi and I came out on the bad side of the tackle,” Warren explained, with a subsequent scan revealing minor ligament damage to his ankle.

After missing PHC’s outing against Somerset Trojans last weekend, Warren has also been ruled out of Sunday’s league clash at home to Devonshire Cougars, and is frustrated at the injury putting a handbrake on his season .

“It is a bit frustrating to be out considering the momentum I had individually and clicking with my team-mates,” he said.

“I am itching to get back but I’m more patient than when I was in my younger years.”

Warren is confident his team-mates can cope in his absence as was the case in a thumping 5-1 win against Trojans.

“We have a strong system and players are still expressing themselves well within that and I am confident in them,” he added.

“We just have to continue to organise ourselves better during the game to maintain our positive habits.”

Premier Division action continues at Goose Gosling Field on Saturday night when relegation-threatened Boulevard Blazers take on Hamilton Parish.

Tomorrow’s remaining top-flight matches feature Somerset hosting bottom side Robin Hood at Somerset Cricket Club, while X-Roads are at home to Village at Lords.

First Division action also resumes on Saurday at Somerset Cricket Club when bottom side Somerset Eagles play host to Devonshire Colts.

The remaining second-tier matches on Sunday feature leaders Wolves at home to Southampton Rangers at Wellington Oval. Second-place BAA are away to Ireland Rangers at Somerset Cricket Club while lowly St David’s Warriors host fourth-place Young Men’s Social Club at Lord’s.

Shield champions Paget Lions, who sit third in the First Division, have a bye.