Customs keep Navy at bay

MUMBAI, March 9: Mumbai Customs very nearly paid for indiscipline while making the final of the Bombay Hockey Association BHA prize money ...

MUMBAI, March 9: Mumbai Customs very nearly paid for indiscipline while making the final of the Bombay Hockey Association BHA prize money tournament with a 3-2 aggregate victory over formidable Indian Navy at the Mahindra Stadium today.

Customs were reduced to nine men six minutes into the second half after mid-fielder Tahseen Sheikh was shown a red card and forward Suresh Pereira a yellow. The winners then staved off considerable anxiety as Navy aspired to draw level after S Gorde cut down a first-leg 1-3 deficit in the 33rd minute.Customs will play the winners of the Rasthtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers RCF-Central Railway clash in Wednesday8217;s final.

With behavior of players leaving much to be desired, today8217;s proceedings were not bereft of incident after the triple red-card fracas on Saturday in the first leg.

Five yellow cards and a red marked today8217;s encounter and it was the turn of Sheikh to draw umpire Satinder Walia8217;s wrath today for allegedly back-chatting, then abusing, while protestingteam-mate Suresh Pereira8217;s temporary suspension.

Fast-tiring Customs, down by a goal at that stage, appeared ill-equipped to contain the fitter servicemen8217;s surges.

To Customs8217; credit they coped with the handicap admirably, thanks to goalkeeper Anson Thomas8217; sparkling show and hard running by mid-fielders Errol D8217;Silva, Adolf Colaco and Rory Fernandes along with cynosure, inside-left Stanley Fernandes.

Fernandes, instrumental for Customs8217; handy lead in the first leg, blotted his book today by collecting a yellow card but continued where he left on Saturday with keen tackling and movement.

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Customs outscored Navy on the corner count 9-6 and even enjoyed the greater possession despite the servicemen8217;s efforts to draw level.Customs turned back to attack after a defensive posture in the first half surrendered the initiative to Navy.

Navy struck after a loose ball drifted towards Gorde at the top of the circle. The striker wasted no time in slamming past Thomas to the right corner of the goal.

Fiveyellow cards shown during the match included one collected by Gorde for felling Rory Fernandes in the second half. Navy failed to take advantage of numbers after Suresh and Sheikh left the field. They pressed Customs hard but stumbled in the end to Thomas.

The goalkeeper padded away threats by Bara and Bisht before palming away in a trice after the last-named struck firmly from Navy8217;s seventh and last penalty-corner in the 66th minute.

D8217;Cruz prevails

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Alex D8217;Cruz 40 defeated M Shetty 50 104-82, 89-80 in the Anthony D8217;Cruz Open handicap snooker tournament at the Catholic Gymkhana, today.Other results: K Sawant 60 bt Neville Cardoza 55 93-88, 114-80; N Telreza 40 bt M Thadani 60 103-88, 96-102, 106-100; R Sadrangani 35 bt P Patki 60 100-103, 127-100, 116-89; D Ghugurdale 60 bt C Pinto 50 96-66, 83-103, 115-93; l Driwani 40 bt M Shetty 50 104-82, 89-80; S Gadge 30 bt M Chawla 60 115-72, 125-75; K Chadwa 50 bt K Wagwera 60 127-72, 135-99.