MUMBAI, FEBRUARY 19: Don Bosco, Matunga, and St Stanislaus, Bandra, justly shared honours as the curtains came down on the MSSA-Colgate inter-school hockey for 1999-2000.While Bosco defeated St Stanislaus to take the boys under-10 title, the under-12 yellow-and-green brigade did not waste time in avenging the loss in the under-12 final soon after at St Stanislaus School on Saturday.There were many at the venue who felt Stanislaus should have made a sweep of the two titles. But neither can we reason with fate, nor can 10-year-olds be expected to perform with ruthless efficiency.For many of the boys playing the under-10 final, it was their first brush with top-level competition. They rose to it with aplomb. The motor co-ordination may have been wanting, but there was no shortage of enthusiasm. Kunal Bhandare, Don Bosco's custodian who came up with three fine saves, led that list. Christophe Pereira - who missed around half-a-dozen chances - and spearhead Randall Gomes did all but score, but were never unwilling to put in their heart.The lone goal came in the 21st minute, Bosco's dangerboy Harmeet Singh sending in a deflection. Even as the goal was scored, Stanislaus principal Fr Lawrie Ferrao would have joined the Bob Woolmer Club, for the use of earphones during matches. His pleas to the boys, to watch out for Harmeet, had gone unheeded.Stanislaus rang up a 2-0 lead in the boys under-12 final by half-time. First Bradley Tellis cracked in a Floyd Dharmai through push in the second minute, then Jason Rebello finished a wonderful move down the right that culminated in Bradley sending a cross past the goalkeeper for Jason to finish.Hormuz Bana scored early in the second half to spark hopes of a close finish, but good defending by Joshua Vessaokar and Deep Dogra saw Stanislaus through. Centre-half Noble Jacob was the most impressive Bosco player, while Bradley too the honours for Stanislaus.RESULTSBoys (U-12) final: Stanislaus 2 (Bradley Tellis, Jason Rebello) bt Don Bosco 1 (Hormuz Bana); Hardlines: Andrew's 2 (Karim Dhanani, Jonathan Fernandes) bt Stanislaus B 1 (Faisal Attarwala) via tie-break (0-0).Boys (U-10) final: Don Bosco 1 (Harmeet Singh) bt Stanislaus 0; Hardlines: Don Bosco Matunga B 4 (Kristoff Menezes 2, Neil Patki, Austin D'Costa) bt St Theresas Bandra 3 (Concessio Dwaine 2, Sheriffi Hassanali) via sudden death (0-0).
