WHEN LEFT WAS RIGHT...Rebels' left-winger Conrad Fernandes, in a change of role during the penalty shootout, brings off another fine save to thward Republicans.

MUMBAI, May 10: Shootout tension told and amidst near comical happenings, Rebels Sports Club clinched the BHA Bhivandiwalla Cup hockey tournament beating Bombay Republicans `C' on sudden-death penalty-strokes 3-2 (full-time 0-0) at the Khalsa College Gymkhana Ground, today.

Ray Finch agonised, then celebrated when he learnt that his feeble attempt was indeed the match-winner. Republicans' keeper Joseph Anthony's emotions went the other way -- elation then dismay -- after allowing the ball trickle beneath him into goal.

Moments earlier, at the first sudden-death attempt, tension seemed to induce Karl Gomes' to an error. He managed to beat Sarfraz in goal but shot before the whistle was blown and the goal did not count. Gomes can be pardoned especially since such a lapse has taken place at the highest level. A Soviet player blundered like Republicans' lad in the 1983 European Championship final won by the Netherlands.

The teams were deadlocked 2-2 at the end of the first five sets of strokes with George Esteves and Ray Finch converting for Rebels and Wyvern D'Mello and Karl Gomes replying for Republicans.

Interestingly, Rebels left-winger Conrad Fernandes donned goalkeeping apparel for the shootout and brought off two fine saves to thwart Bosco Fernandes and Savio Nayak.

Neither side looked likely to score in 60 minutes' regulation time. There were few opportunities in front of goal and just one per side in the first half Goalkeepers John (Rebels) padding away Datta Mayekar's penalty-corner hit at the outset Anthony padding away Calvin Fernandes' firm attempt towards the end of the first half.

Karl Lopes frittered away the best chance of the match in the second minute after the interval. The Rebels left-winger failed to control in front of an open goal after goalkeeper Anthony kicked over while attempting to cut off a cross from the right by Conrad Fernandes.

The winners received Rs 5,000 while the runners-up took home Rs 3,000.

Mumbai in semis

MUMBAI beat Sangli 56-48 (half-time 19-23) to enter the boys' semi-finals of the Maharashtra Inter-District junior basketball tournament at the Mastan Talao Playground, today.

Amit More lead the scoring for the winners with 26 points. Sangli's Ajay Patil notched 16.

The boys' semi-final line-up is: Ahmednagar vs Pune; Nagpur vs Mumbai North. Satara District routed Pune 59-33 (30-14) to enter the girls' final. Pradhnya Rao starred with 25 points while Arnika Gujjar scored 20 for Satara. The winners now await the result of the Mumbai Central vs Nagpur semi-final.

Patil deadly

FINE medium pace bowling by Rakesh Patil helped Worli Centre beat Bandra Centre by 20 runs in the first-round league match of the Kalpesh Govind Koli memorial cricket tournament (40 overs), sponsored by Maharaja Fatesingh Gaekwad Sports Foundation for MCA vacation camps, at the Matunga ground, today.

Patil's six for 29 helped dismiss Bandra for 180 in 36.2 overs, replying to Worli's 200 for nine.

In another match, Sunil Tulaskar cracked 53 with the help of nine hits to the fence to help Purandare Centre beat Matunga Centre by six wickets.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.