January 29, 2006	Sunday	Zilhaj 28, 1426

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

LAHORE, Jan 28: Two-goal Nauman Wasif, supported by one and a half-goal handicap, led Punjab Rangers to victory beating The Collectibles 4 1/2-4 in the final of the Novices Cup on Saturday.

After a goalless first chukker, the Rangers increased the handicap lead to 3 1/2-1 in the second chukker.

The losers, drew first blood through Naveed M Sheikh, who pumped in three, scoring a field goal on solo efforts. The winners scored their first when Nauman banged home a field goal, followed by Shayan Manzoor whose 40-yard penalty-hit went through the goalpost.

Struggling Naveed again reduced the lead for losers to 3 1/2-2 with his second, in the third chukker, cashing in on a penalty near the goalpost.

On offensive, the losers tried their level best to match the rivals in the fourth chukker and once took the slender lead (4-3 1/2) by scoring back-to-back goals through Naveed and Feroze Gulzar, before Nauman scored his second, capitalising a spot penalty near the goalpost to seal the fate of the final.

Three goals by Afzal Mahr and two each by Azhar Ali and Ali Hussain enabled Technimen claimed third place, beating Remington 8 1-2-6. The winners had one and half goal handicap.

For losers, Atif Ali Tiwana registered hat trick while Pervez Khan, Jamal Iftikhar and Faisal Khokhar added a goal each.