BOTH sides were understrength for last night's Neville Cup hockey semi-final at Serpentine Avenue but Pembroke had not been afflicted by injuries to the same extent as Avoca and it was a suitable outcome that the home side qualified to meet Glenanne in the St Stephen's Day final.

Pembroke were largely the dominant team and led 2-0 at the interval through a short corner whisked to the net by Stephen Stewart and a penalty stroke converted by Paudie Carley.

Defiantly, Trevor Dagg put away a penalty to keep the holders in contention in the closing stages but subsequently the Wanderers goal was kept intact by Charlie Henderson making his debut at senior level in place of his brother Nigel, who had committed himself totally to Leinster's cause at the weekend.

Hosts India, reduced to 10 men for half the match, held Olympic gold medallists Holland to a 1-1 draw in the Champions Trophy in Madras yesterday. Spanish umpire Santiago Deo sent off Indian midfielder Mohammmad Riaz in the first minute of the ill-tempered encounter for hitting Marten Eikel on the face. Eikel needed eight stitches.