The feared Cuban missile crisis failed to materialise as Bermuda packed their defence and kept their opponents' firepower to the bare minimum in the final group match of the ladies hockey tournament at the CAC Games here yesterday.

Bermuda coach Dai Hermann-Smith had opted to scrap his side's attacking approach in a bid to limit the damage imposed by a team which had scored 19 goals in four games before the match and was threatening double figures against his inexperienced charges.

And the plan worked well, as the Island team restricted the Cubans to just nine shots on goal before half-time, only two of which found the net.

Assistant coach Cath Davis said afterwards: "We changed our strategy and we were very very pleased with the way it worked. When we came off at half-time only two goals down it was absolute bedlam.'' The Cubans added just three more after the break, as Bermuda were restricted to the odd breakaway to relieve the pressure on an overworked back line.

"We had a lot of compliments from the sidelines,'' added Davis. "Spectators commented on how well the girls had done what the coaches had asked of them.

"We thought Cuba would come out looking for a really big score to set them up for their game tomorrow. But when we came off at the end you'd have thought it was us who had won the game.

"We're hoping this will work to our advantage for our match with Venezuela.'' That match, which takes place today, will decide fifth and sixth place in the competition. For Bermuda, it is a chance for revenge after they were narrowly beaten 2-1 by the hosts in their opening game a week ago.

GYMNASTICS A judges' ruling hit Bermuda's three representatives in the gymnastics competition in Maracaibo on Monday.

Laura Murphy, Christina White and Leila Wadson all had a point docked from their scores in the all round individual event after doing the same vault in both of their attempts in the discipline.

International rules state that is only acceptable in the team competition.

Team manager Elizabeth Murphy said: "It was unfortunate. It's the first time we've competed in an international competition and we didn't know about the rule. The coach Walid Mustafa didn't know about it either, so it's a learning experience for all of us.'' The ruling was not enough to stop Laura Murphy heading the Bermudian contingent. She was in 15th place as the team prepared for their stronger beam and floor disciplines last night.

Results weren't available at press time.

"That point could have lifted her up to 12th,'' said Elizabeth.

However, both Murphy and White showed an improvement on the assymetric bars compared with their first attempt at the discipline on Saturday.

Murphy was awarded a 6.7 mark while White achieved 5.2, well up on her score in the high threes two days previously.

Murphy and White were among the top 19 girls from the team competition to qualify for the individual event. Wadson, who was on the reserve list, got her chance when a girl of another nationality dropped out.

Sasha Christensen, the youngest member of the team, didn't score highly enough to qualify.

HOCKEY HOC GYMNASTICS GYM